The third Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue is set to begin in Tokyo on Sunday. The three-day event will bring together defense ministers and representatives from 14 Pacific Island nations and Japan. A total of 28 countries, including seven ASEAN member states, will participate, marking the largest number ever.
The defense dialogue, which was inaugurated in 2021, aims to strengthen coordination with the island nations through defense cooperation, keeping in mind China's maritime expansion.
Following the welcoming ceremony on Sunday, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the main meeting on Monday. Koizumi plans to hold a series of bilateral meetings with defense ministers from Tonga, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea—nations with military capabilities—to share views on the importance of regional stability and the rule of law, as well as to confirm progress in defense cooperation.
The event features the largest number of participants to date, with 28 countries involved, including seven member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This gathering underscores efforts to build security ties in the Pacific region.
