Australia and Japan have a strong and broad-ranging security relationship under the renewed 2022 Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, which affirms our Special Strategic Partnership and deepens our cooperation in responding to the most pressing security challenges in our region.
Our security partnership features frequent joint training and exercises, personnel exchanges, cooperation on space, cyber policy and strategic capabilities, and defence science and technology collaboration. Australia and Japan work closely trilaterally with the United States and with regional partners, including in areas such as capacity building, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Our defence forces are increasing joint training and strengthening interoperability, enhanced through the Reciprocal Access Agreement which entered into force this year. Australia and Japan regularly participate in joint bilateral and multilateral defence exercises and frequently consult on regional security issues.
Australia and Japan cooperate in response to various global crises, such as the search of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the relief activities after the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, and disaster relief operations after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. In 2020, Japan dispatched two C-130 aircraft to Australia in response to the severe bushfire season.
Australia and Japan also have a strong history of cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, including in East Timor, Cambodia and South Sudan.
Our aim is to continue to strengthen our mutually beneficial security cooperation with Japan.
For further details, please refer to the DFAT Japan Brief.
(Photo: CPL Jessica de Rouw) Australian Army soldiers from 7th Brigade board a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force C-130 Hercules at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.
(Photo: LEUT Tony Martin, RAN) Royal Australian Navy minehunters HMA Ships Gascoyne (85) and Huon (82) rafted up with JMSDF Bungo during Exercise Hyuga Nada 18 off the coast of southern Japan.