Tokyo | Japan will eventually have a role to play in the next phase of the AUKUS security agreement, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles, who pledged to further bolster defence ties with Tokyo and Seoul after meetings with his North Asian counterparts this week.

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Mr Marles also said Australia wanted to progress defence dialogue with China, which he said was still not at the level it was before diplomatic relations soured in 2019.