A working group at director-general or joint-secretary level was proposed to coordinate across operations, intelligence, technology, and industry to accelerate cooperation.

There were discussions about marketing Mogami-derived vessels to the United States, Singapore, and Middle Eastern markets, though no concrete plans were set.

The leaders reaffirmed a free, open Indo-Pacific with unprecedented strategic alignment aimed at regional stability and resilience.

New Zealand has shortlisted the Mogami-class frigate alongside the British Type 31 for its next-generation fleet, a move with potential implications for regional interoperability.

Cooperation now spans maritime domain awareness, enhanced search-and-rescue collaboration, and improved mine countermeasure capabilities.

In Canberra, defense ministers from Japan and Australia outlined a plan to deepen security cooperation, including expanded defense equipment collaboration and facilitating Japan’s export of upgraded Mogami-class frigates to Australia.

They discussed developing counterstrike capabilities and long-range missile testing in Australia as a way to demonstrate a strengthened, quasi-allied deterrence beyond traditional partnerships.

The two sides also agreed to reinforce trilateral deterrence with the United States, extending their coordinated posture in the Indo-Pacific.

Officials expressed serious concerns about stability in the East China Sea and South China Sea, opposing unilateral escalations and condemning North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities.

A Shanghai University lecturer noted the article’s author but this detail is not central to the defense discussions.

Analysts warn these steps could heighten regional tensions and push the Indo-Pacific toward greater confrontation.

The ministers emphasized deepening practical cooperation with the United States and collaborating with regional partners, including India, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and South Korea, while supporting regional bodies like ASEAN and the Quad’s IPLN for logistics and disaster response.