Japan, Australia deepen economic and defence cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a meeting in Canberra, concluding with a joint declaration on cooperation in the field of economic security.

The document aims to coordinate efforts to ensure stable supply chains for key resources, including energy products, food supplies, and rare earth metals, Caliber.Az reports per Japanese media.

Both sides expressed concern over export restrictions, including those related to China, and stated their intention to jointly respond to cases of economic coercion.

Special attention was also given to the situation in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as to expanding cooperation in defence and cyberspace.

Australia is a key supplier to Japan of energy resources and strategic materials, including LNG, coal, and rare earth elements. The new declaration builds on a 2022 security agreement between the two countries.

The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation within the Quad format (Japan, the United States, Australia, and India) and their support for the concept of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada