Indo-Pacific
Japan's Takaichi pledges deeper ties with Vietnam on energy and minerals
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged on Saturday to deepen ties with Vietnam, focusing on energy and critical minerals in talks with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. The leaders discussed advancing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023. Takaichi later urged Southeast Asian nations to strengthen regional supply chains.
The Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter reached Kochi on May 4 during a five-month Indo-Pacific deployment. The visit aims to strengthen maritime ties between India and the Netherlands through discussions and joint activities.
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Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australia's Penny Wong met in Tokyo on Tuesday to reaffirm cooperation toward a free and open Indo-Pacific amid a severe security environment. The first in-person talks since last October preceded next Monday's prime ministers' summit and covered defense and economic security.
The Pentagon announced on Saturday that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will visit South Korea and Japan this weekend, following the release of the new National Defense Strategy (NDS). The trip aims to advance President Donald Trump's 'peace through strength' agenda, discussing burden-sharing and potential adjustments to U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula. In response, President Lee Jae Myung stressed that achieving self-reliant defense is the 'most basic of basics.'
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A US envoy reaffirmed support for a free and open Indo-Pacific during a Quad meeting in Beijing, as the People's Liberation Army conducted its second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan. Some analysts argue that the Quad is losing significance under Trump despite this display of unity and deterrence. The grouping is an informal strategic forum aimed at promoting a rules-based Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Asia this week, including South Korea, to stress the need for allies to boost defense spending and contribute to collective defense. The Pentagon said Hegseth will praise South Korea's commitment to increasing defense spending and taking greater responsibility for alliance deterrence during the annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul on Nov. 4. This comes amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and North Korea's nuclear advances.
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President Prabowo Subianto praised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership as the first female leader who masters key issues, after attending the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He highlighted the long-standing ASEAN-Japan partnership as a sturdy anchor for peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Prabowo also urged stronger economic cooperation and energy transitions.