Two months after Australia selected Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its navy’s new fleet of warships, Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, called for an ‘equilateral’ security triangle with the United States.
During his address at the National Press Club, Suzuki stated the importance of strengthening cooperation to reinforce those traditional alliance structures. He cited deep concerns about China’s rapid military build-up. Suzuki also spoke on China’s aggressive posture in the South China Sea, East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
He thought that since the Japan–Australia side remains the shortest, the priority for the countries is to transform the Japan–Australia–US triangle into a more equilateral triangle.
What did Suzuki say?
Among other things, the Japanese ambassador said that both Japan and Australia should consider sharing strategic assessments, potential contingencies and participating in identifying joint responses.
According to Suzuki, a stronger Japanese presence in Australia would reinforce Japan’s strategic resilience and enhance Australia’s deterrence. He also opened up on growing uncertainty about the Quad’s future under Donald Trump’s second presidency, following trade tensions between India and the US.
Not only this, Suzuki said a set-up of a framework like the Japan-Australia-US-Philippines group is important, as they have done in the past during joint exercises in the South China Sea.
Japan-Australia Ties
Earlier, both Japan and Australia had stepped up defence ties. In 2023, Japanese F-35s arrived in the Northern Territory for training, while Japanese marines joined US rotations in the Northern Territory. In 2025, 1,500 members of the Japanese self-defence forces participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre.
In August 2025, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles announced that PM Anthony Albanese’s cabinet had selected Japan’s upgraded Mogami frigate over the German MEKO A-200 to build the Australian Navy’s new fleet of warships.
According to the deal, it is expected that the first three of the frigates would be built in Japan, while the remaining eight to be built in Western Australia. Australia will spend $10 billion on the first three vessels.
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