Japanese troop rotations locked in for the Top End, Defence Minister Richard Marles confirms
The Top End’s military community is set to expand and diversify, with Japanese soldiers expected to deploy to the Territory in the coming months after Australia, Japan and the US agreed upon the plan.
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Updated, 2.30pm: Japanese soldiers will be deploying to the Territory in the coming months, with Tokyo casting its gaze towards tighter military relations with Australia and the US.
At HMAS Coonawarra on Sunday, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a closed-door meeting to discuss military affairs between the their respective nations.
At noon, Mr Marles faced the media alongside his American and Japanese counterparts to announce the “profound” decision.
“Today we are announcing that there will be regular deployments of Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to Australia and that will have a particular focus on cooperating with the ADF and the United States Marines who are (already) here,” he said.
“This is going to build interoperability between our three countries, but it is a very important statement to the region and to the world about the commitment that our three countries have in working with each other.”
It is understood Japan will rotate a regiment-sized force – about 600 troops – through the Top End during Exercise Talisman Sabre years, which is a biennial event next due to be held in July 2025.
In years which Exercise Talisman Sabre does not occur, Japan’s intention is to have a company-sized force rotate through the Top End to participate on other warfighting activities.
It was not revealed how long each Japanese deployment will rotate through the Territory, nor where they will be stationed, although it is understood the Japanese troops will most likely be housed at Robertson Barracks.
Mr Nakatani said the arrangement would enhance military relations between the three nations.
“The US, Australia and Japan are the core nations steadily enhancing our security in this region,” he said.
“In emergency cases we need to respond in a practical way.”
Mr Austin hailed Darwin as the “focal point” of the trilateral relationship.
“Today, more than ever, we’re taking concrete actions that will deepen our trilateral cooperation, and the three of us are here to see the results first-hand,” he said.
“Darwin is a focal point for our expanding trilateral relationship and our bond is delivering real security, deterrence and interoperability.”
With a view to immediately improving operational readiness, Mr Marles confirmed Japan and the US will join the ADF in 2025 on Exercise Puk Puk, situated in Papua New Guinea.
Mr Marles also confirmed the three nations would adapt a new consultation arrangement, whereby the trio would discuss pressing issues in the Indo-Pacific in a formal setting.
“(Our) three countries will commit to consulting with each other in respect of regional security issues and contingencies,” he said.
“The significance of that is it provides a substance and a structure to the trilateral meaning of our three countries which has not been there before, and it represents the ambition that all of us have about taking the architecture of our three countries even further.”
Of note, Mr Marles said he believed President-Elect Donald Trump would continue to honour the trilateral relationship and Australia’s AUKUS submarine agreement, notwithstanding his isolationist leanings.
“We are confident that a future administration will stand by America’s place in the world and American leadership,” Mr Marles said.
Turning Japanese: New force to join US Marines in Top End rotations
Initial, 11am: Defence supremos from the United States and Japan have arrived in Darwin for trilateral talks that could reshape the countries’ Asia-Pacific strategy, with national broadsheet the Australian reporting Japanese troops are set to join US Marines on annual deployments to the NT.
On Sunday morning, military powerbrokers Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani joined Defence Minister Richard Marles before being escorted to HMAS Coonawarra.
Pulling up in a 25-car motorcade, the leaders were greeted by senior Australian Army and US Marine commanders.
The trio proceeded to mingle with troops, before addressing the warfighters collectively.
After thanking the Territorian soldiers for their hospitality, Mr Austin addressed the importance of working together.
“(Integration goes) beyond just equipment – it’s you getting to know your counterpart, your Australian counterpart, your American counterpart and soon your Japanese counterpart,” he said.
“There are a lot of great training areas in the world (and) this has to be one of the best because you have so much flexibility to train the way you want to train.”
Mr Nakatani, speaking to the troops through a translator, said he was happy to be in the Top End and that he was “cheering” for the Aussies and US troops.
Earlier in the day, the Australian reported Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade would join the US Marine Corps’ annual Top End rotations in years to come, with a formal announcement expected later.
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