In a virtual meeting on 6 January, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (Australia-Japan RAA) between the two countries to enable ADF and Japan Self Defense Force co-operative activities.
The agreement will establish standing arrangements between the ADF JSDF and further facilitate activities such as military exercises and humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) operations in the region. Morrison and Kishida also confirmed the importance of promoting co-operation between the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Department of Home Affairs concerning maritime domain awareness.
Australia and Japan will also develop a new Joint Declaration on Security Co-operation, replacing the existing agreement signed in 2007.
“The two leaders today signed the landmark Australia-Japan RAA, underscoring their commitment to further elevating bilateral security and defence co-operation in the interests of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” a statement issued by Scott Morrison’s office said.
“The agreement will establish standing arrangements for the ADF and JSDF to facilitate co-operative activities such as joint exercises and disaster relief operations, including those of greater scale and complexity, while improving the interoperability and capability of the two countries’ forces.”
The full statement can be read here