Description: Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese and Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi met in Canberra as they discussed several issues and agreed to cooperate on multiple strategic fields. Takaichi stated that the volatile global crisis prompts Japan to seek alternative and stable alliances for energy cooperation and rare earth mining. The leaders also discussed the current situation in the Indo – Pacific, China’s naval assertions in the region as well as nuclear threats by North Korea. Albanese emphasized the newly concluded partnership regarding rare earth mining, with Australia pledging to provide $930 million in support of joint projects with Japan. Takaichi and Albanese also confirmed defense cooperation agreements regarding the previously concluded defense pact that would oversee the construction of three Japanese warships. Albanese previously visited Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, while Takaichi arrived from Vietnam as the leaders attempt to shore up energy support in times of crisis.
Impact: Japan and Australia’s strategic partnership is likely primarily aimed at decreasing the energy shocks on their national markets while also pioneering for limiting China’s influence on the global rare earth mineral market. The partnership is likely to deliver equal benefits for both countries in the short to mid – term period, since a codependent energy trade is already established. Japan’s reopening of its military industrial complex would enable Australia with access to defense industry investments and likely form a wider front for deterrence in the Indo – Pacific. Albanese and Takaichi have been engaged in regional diplomacy for the past two weeks, garnering support and expanding regional influence which would likely create a middle – power dominance where both countries would jointly decide the strategic landscape. With China’s regional dominance and the US prioritizing the war in Iran and its trade competition with China, the regional strategic landscape is set to be dictated by middle power countries such as Japan and Australia in the long – term.