Canberra - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, 4 May 2026 held a bilateral meeting, marking the two countries 50 years of friendship and cooperations.
Energy security is part of the two leaders conversation as well as global situation that PM Albanese described as "global shock".
"Our partnership helps us secure the energy we both need, underpins the trade and investment that leads to more jobs and helps keep us safe in a more uncertain world," describing the friendship between the two nations have stronger than ever.
Through the summit, Japan and Australia agreed to boost their ties into some areas of strategic partnership, including economic security cooperation, critical technology, energy security, and defense and security.
PM Takaichi said the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted the Inso-Pacific region profoundly, therefore, Japan and Australia confirmed to maintain close communication and response with a sense of tension.
"This includes cooperation under the Power of Asia, which I announced last month, namely the Asia Energy Resource Supply Resilience Partnership, as well as efforts to ensure stable bidirectional energy supplies...," PM Takaichi said.
In defense and security sector, the two countries' 50 years of partnership is marked by the acquisition of Japan's Mogami class destroyer by Australian Navy.
"The introduction of our Mogami class destroyer to the Australian Navy is a landmark collaboration symbolizing this 50th anniversary," PM Takaichi said.
On 21 April 2026, Japanese government lifted 80-years long ban to export lethal arms, which domestically gained critics.
