Bilateral Security Cooperation Pact With Japan Updated

Top Australian and Japanese officials have agreed to an updated security cooperation agreement, reports Reuters.

During the annual Australia-Japan Leaders’ Meeting on Saturday in Perth, Western Australia, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida signed a security cooperation agreement updating a 2007 pact.

Under the revamped security partnership, Japanese military personnel would train in northern Australia alongside Australian troops.

The parties also agreed to consult on crises that could affect regional security.

The deal also covers increased “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance” cooperation, reported Agence France-Presse.

The pact, including intelligence-sharing, is another sign that Japan is becoming more active in the security field, Australian experts said.

The ability to share intelligence with Australia would also strengthen the Quad framework with the U.S. and India and could serve as an initial step toward joining the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and U.S., said analysts.