Australia, US, Japan, and Philippines discuss expanding military cooperation and defense coordination

Kuala Lumpur – Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday that he discussed with his counterparts, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Japanese Minister of Defense Shigeru Ishiba, and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, ways to enhance cooperation in military operations during a quadrilateral meeting held in the Philippine city of Cebu. Marles added in statements released by his office that the ministers also explored ways to strengthen coordination of defense policies and the potential for joint investment in Philippine infrastructure as part of expanding security cooperation among the four countries. He noted that the quadrilateral meeting discussed developing military operational concepts, enhancing coordination among defense policy experts, and examining opportunities for joint investment in Philippine infrastructure, particularly on the islands of Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south, where infrastructure projects have seen significant developments in recent years.

Marles explained that the Balikatan exercises, which began as bilateral military drills between the United States and the Philippines, saw hundreds of Australian military personnel participate this year as part of the expansion of quadrilateral cooperation. He noted that the upcoming Australian-Philippine Alon exercises next year will include hundreds of U.S. military personnel, following Japan’s participation as an observer in the previous edition.

Responding to questions about tensions with China in the South China Sea and near islands southwest of Japan, Marles declined to characterize the quadrilateral meeting as an attempt by Australia, the Philippines, and Japan to send a message to the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He emphasized that the four countries share responsibility for addressing regional challenges and work in close coordination based on a common mission. Marles added that Australia views China’s efforts to reshape its regional environment and expand its influence as posing challenges to the rules-based international order and increasing regional pressures. He noted that Beijing is carrying out what he described as the largest conventional military buildup since World War II without providing sufficient strategic explanation for its motives.

He stressed that Australia conveys its concerns directly to China, publicly states them, and calls for adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international rules. He highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade in the South China Sea, through which most of Australia’s trade passes, considering the maintenance of maritime security and regional stability a priority for his country’s economic and security interests and a central focus of Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force activities in the region.

On Australia’s defense relations with regional countries, Marles said that the level of military cooperation with regional partners has reached an all-time high, pointing to the rapid development of ties with the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. Regarding the U.S. military presence in Australia, he clarified that its deployment has expanded since the start of the rotational deployment of U.S. Marine Corps forces in Darwin in northern Australia in 2011, with the number of personnel participating in deployment cycles reaching 2,500. He noted that military cooperation between the two countries now encompasses land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, in addition to logistics.

He revealed that next year will see the launch of the submarine rotation program in the West, starting from HMAS Stirling naval base south of Perth, as part of the implementation steps of the AUKUS agreement aimed at enabling Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, confirming progress in implementing the agreement according to plans and continuing to develop US deployment arrangements through Australian-US ministerial consultations (Ausmin). In response to a question about the impact of transferring some US military assets to the Middle East, Marles expressed Australia’s satisfaction with the level of US military deployment in Asia and the Pacific, clarifying that the conflict in the Middle East imposes urgent military requirements “but America’s national defense and national security strategies reaffirm the continued focus on the Indo-Pacific region.” Regarding the proposal by the US Secretary of Defense to establish a new framework for defense cooperation between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to begin implementing it next year, coinciding with Singapore’s chairmanship of the association, Marles welcomed the proposal, emphasizing the importance of expanding US participation and defense cooperation with ASEAN member states. On the investigation into the disappearance of parts from F-35 fighter jets that were diverted from Australia to Hong Kong, he said he had no updates on the case, clarifying that it is being handled in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the program, and reaffirming his confidence in the security of the F-35s’ core information security system and in the collaboration with the company. On regional security challenges, Marles considered that the rules-based international order is facing increasing pressure due to developments in various parts of the world, including the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting the importance of expanding defense cooperation with regional partners to safeguard security and stability. The Quad meeting took place on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by the Philippines in Cebu City, as the association’s rotating chair this year. The expanded meeting brings together the 11 ASEAN member states alongside eight dialogue partners: the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing security and defense cooperation and discussing regional and international challenges. (End) E A B / T A B