Australia’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles has said that Canberra is keen to see Japan collaborate with the AUKUS security partnership, the Kyodo news agency reported.
The other members of the security group are the United States and United Kingdom.
Marles said that Canberra wants to “work more closely with Japan” on technological developments. Acknowledging that the Asian country is a “place of innovation and cutting edge of technology” in days to come the minister added that there would be better cooperation between Japan the other members.
The Aukus was launched in 2021 in order to contain China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The first pillar of the security partnership focuses on acquiring nuclear submarines; the second is aimed at developing capabilities in artificial intelligence and hypersonic missiles.
Though keen on furthering strategic ties with Japan, Marles ruled out Tokyo’s participation in the centre-piece project for Aukus, i.e delivering nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
“As it becomes more mature, which is going to take some years … I think there is an opportunity at that point to look at how we can cooperate with Japan in relation to that,” he said.
Countries like Canada and New Zealand have also shown an intent to work with other Aukus members.
Recently, the Australian government welcomed the prospect of Japan using Australia’s landmass as a testing ground for long-range missiles, as Tokyo seeks to acquire capabilities to strike targets in enemy territory.
“Our training areas are among the best in the world, and we’re very keen to work with Japan in relation to them, and see Japan have the opportunity to use them,” the defence minister noted.
Over the years, both the countries have strengthened their defence cooperation including signing a reciprocal access agreement that would enable quicker deployment of defence personnel between the two nations.
