Japan, Australia agree to elevate defense ties, launch Pacific digital plan

ANKARA

Japan and Australia on Thursday agreed to strengthen their defense ties and launch a Pacific digital plan, according to an official statement.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of top diplomats and defense officials from both countries, known as "2+2" talks.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong hosted their Japanese counterparts, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, in Queenscliff, located in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides agreed to bolster defense cooperation, particularly between Japan’s stand-off defense capability and Australia’s long-range strike capability.

They also pledged to improve information warfare capabilities, specifically in countering misinformation and disinformation.

The ministers committed to expanding trilateral intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and welcomed Australian personnel’s participation in the Japan-United States Bilateral Information Analysis Cell (BIAC).

They also agreed to enhance quadrilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan, India, and the US, particularly through a maritime patrol aircraft collaboration initiative.

In addition, the ministers emphasized their commitment to working with Pacific Island countries, announcing the launch of a Pacific digital plan.

They said they would establish an Australia-Japan Pacific Digital Development Initiative (PDDI) to enhance connectivity and digital resilience across the Pacific, which is in line with the priorities of Pacific Island nations.

Both Japan and Australia are key US allies in the Indo-Pacific region and are members of the Quad, a security alliance that includes India and the US.