Japan will begin regularly deploying troops to train alongside rotating US forces in northern Australia starting in 2025, marking a significant escalation in trilateral security cooperation between the US, Japan, and Australia in response to growing strategic competition with China, Bloomberg reports.
The announcement, made Sunday following a meeting in Darwin between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles, signals a deepening commitment to regional security. Minister Marles described the decision as “a very important statement to the region and to the world” regarding the three nations’ collaborative efforts.
The deployments, expected to commence next year, will utilize the reciprocal military access agreement signed by Japan and Australia in January 2022. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marles highlighted that a key opportunity presented itself through the US Marine rotational presence in Darwin, allowing for integrated Japanese participation in joint exercises. He specifically mentioned the invitation extended to Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to participate in training with US and Australian forces.
This move builds upon the US’s broader strategy of strengthening security ties with regional partners amidst increasing strategic competition with China. Recent developments include an upgraded security agreement signed between the US, Japan, and South Korea in July, and ongoing progress in the US Congress regarding the AUKUS pact to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.
When asked about potential Chinese reaction, Minister Marles emphasized Australia’s autonomy in choosing its alliances and partners, stating that the focus remains on the trilateral cooperation between Australia, Japan, and the US within the framework of the Marine rotational presence in Darwin.
