Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during his anticipated visit to Japan, the final leg of a 10-day Indo-Pacific tour including India and Australia. Amid U.S. President Donald Trump's pressure on allies' military spending, the leaders signed an agreement to strengthen security and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting shared concerns among Canada, Japan, and Australia for more independent security measures.
Carney arrived in Japan on Friday for the bilateral summit previewed earlier this month. Following discussions, the leaders held a signing ceremony outlining steps for closer collaboration. "First, most importantly and fundamentally, we are enhancing our security and defense cooperation," Carney said.
The pact builds on prior talks about trade and investment diversification amid U.S. tariff policies, shifting focus to defense as Trump demands allies handle more of their own security. This reflects ongoing discussions in Canada, Japan, and Australia about reducing reliance on U.S. support while emphasizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
