At talks this week, Japanese and Australian defense chiefs warned that global crises, including in the Middle East, must not create a security vacuum in the Indo-Pacific. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said a shifting geostrategic environment is prompting the quasi-allies to rethink arms production cooperation.
Japanese and Australian defense chiefs delivered a clear message at talks this week: crises elsewhere, including in the Middle East, must not come at the expense of Asia and create an Indo-Pacific "security vacuum".
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart, likely Shinjiro Koizumi, discussed deepening ties. Amid concerns over U.S. stockpiles, the two nations are eyeing joint production of missiles and drones, Marles said.
Marles noted that the shifting geostrategic environment is driving the quasi-allies to rethink how they cooperate on arms production. Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and Australia's defense ministry highlighted the need for such measures, as reported by The Japan Times, with references to Iran, Ukraine, and regional stability.
