TOKYO –
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinji Koizumi held the first-ever trilateral assembly together with his counterparts from Australia and New Zealand, the place the three sides exchanged views on protection cooperation, together with the potential export of the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s newest frigate design.
“I am very pleased that we are able to hold trilateral discussions at such an early stage while cooperation with Australia on the Mogami-class frigate is progressing and New Zealand has also expressed interest in the vessel,” Koizumi mentioned.
Koizumi, who’s visiting Singapore to attend a global safety convention, met with the protection ministers of Australia and New Zealand on May thirtieth for the inaugural three-way talks.
According to officers, the ministers mentioned the potential for New Zealand adopting an upgraded model of the Mogami-class frigate, which Japan and Australia are collectively growing. The assembly additionally served as a possibility to deepen safety cooperation among the many three nations as they search to strengthen protection partnerships within the Indo-Pacific area.
Source: TBS