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Current Affairs

Japan eyes deeper defence ties with Australia, India to ease supply chain concerns

Japan is looking beyond the United States to enhance its defence capabilities, as mounting doubt over American munitions supplies pushes Tokyo to seek deeper industrial…

By Samantha Johnson / August 17, 2026
Japan is looking beyond the United States to enhance its defence capabilities, as mounting doubt over American munitions supplies pushes Tokyo to seek deeper industrial ties on this front with Australia and India.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visits to the two countries this week are set to advance cooperation spanning warships to stealth technology and drones, analysts say, pointing to how prolonged conflict in the Middle East and the Ukraine war could drain stockpiles for US allies.

Koizumi will embark on his three-day trip from Tuesday, according to Japanese media reports citing defence officials.

In Canberra, he is expected to hold a trilateral defence ministers’ meeting with his Australian and New Zealand counterparts to discuss the proposed export of an upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate to Wellington.

In New Delhi, Koizumi will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss cooperation on defence equipment, including Japan’s planned export of its Unicorn stealth communication system.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) is expected to visit Australia and India this week to advance defence cooperation. Photo: EPA / Jiji Press
Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) is expected to visit Australia and India this week to advance defence cooperation. Photo: EPA / Jiji Press

Rintaro Inoue, research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics think tank in Tokyo, said that until recently, Japan assumed it could rely heavily on America in a contingency.

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