Japan’s PM Takaichi visits Australia to strengthen defense, energy, and critical mineral ties

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in Canberra late Sunday for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening defense, economic, and energy ties with Australia, one of Japan's closest allies. The trip, the second leg of her regional tour following Vietnam, comes as both nations address growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific amid tensions with Beijing and uncertainties from Washington. According to Bloomberg reports, Takaichi's agenda includes meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to finalize key agreements and bolster supply chains for critical minerals and energy.

The visit builds on an updated Indo-Pacific strategy that Takaichi outlined during her recent stop in Vietnam, where Japan and Vietnam deepened cooperation on energy through the POWERR Asia initiative, critical minerals, and AI development via a new memorandum of understanding. In Australia, the leaders are set to announce the co-development of a variant of Japan's Mogami-class frigate, enhancing defense collaboration. They will also reaffirm commitments to economic security, including stable energy trade—Australian LNG to Japan and refined oil products from Japan to Australia—as well as pledges to keep these flows open despite regional disruptions.

Experts like Tobias Harris, founder of Japan Foresight, highlight the trip's focus on defense, critical minerals, and broader economic security in a changing environment. Speaking on Bloomberg's The Asia Trade, Harris noted Tokyo's push to deepen alliances with key partners like Australia and Vietnam as Japan adopts a more assertive military posture. This comes amid shared concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical shifts, with both countries seeking resilient partnerships.

The timing underscores why this matters for the region: Australia and Japan face pressures from China's influence and potential U.S. policy shifts under President Donald Trump, whose upcoming China trip has prompted Tokyo to seek reassurances. Takaichi's government is reportedly exploring a Trump stopover in Japan before his Xi Jinping meeting to protect Japanese interests. For Australians, the visit offers fuel assurances from Japan's strategic stocks—over 200 days' worth—to ease consumer worries about energy prices.

Looking ahead, the outcomes could solidify a bulwark against regional instability, affecting businesses reliant on stable minerals for tech and renewables, as well as defense industries. Final agreements on frigates and energy pacts are expected during Monday's talks, potentially paving the way for expanded joint projects. As reported by observers like Observing Japan, this "new FOIP" (Free and Open Indo-Pacific) approach positions the alliance as a cornerstone of stability amid global uncertainties.