Japanese forces will join U.S. Marine rotations in the Northern Territory as Australia, the United States, and Japan deepen ties in response to Beijing’s increasing aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.
Defence Minister Richard Marles hosted U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Nov. 17 for a trilateral ministers’ meeting. The meeting occurred in Darwin and was the first such meeting to take place in Australia.
Marles said that after discussions with Natakani at the annual 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue diplomatic summit in September, both nations considered increasing familiarity between their defence forces.
Japanese troops joining activities during the marine rotation was an apparent opportunity….