Japan-Australia Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister ISHIBA by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Marles, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wong of Australia
September 5, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On September 5, 2025, commencing at 9:00 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, received a courtesy call from Hon. Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview is as follows. Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. NAKATANI Gen, Minister of Defense of Japan were also present during the courtesy call.
- At the outset, Prime Minister ISHIBA welcomed the ministers’ visits and, in light of Australia’s selection of the upgraded “Mogami”-class frigate as the preferred platform for Australia’s future general purpose frigates, said he looked forward to a meaningful discussion on further cooperation in the field of security and defense between Japan and Australia at the Japan-Australia 2+2 meeting.
- Both sides shared the view that, as the strategic environment in the region becomes increasingly severe and complex, strengthening security cooperation with like-minded countries, including Japan and Australia, is essential for regional peace and stability. Both sides also concurred that they would continue to work to further deepen Japan-Australia cooperation with a view to 50th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia.