AUKUS Countries Say They Want to Involve Japan

The U.S., Australia and the U.K. are making “progress” on creating license-free defense trade among the three countries under the AUKUS partnership, they said in a joint statement this week. They also said they are considering involving Japan in the effort.

An April 8 statement by the three nations’ defense ministers said they are taking “significant and tangible steps to meet their commitment to streamline trade among and between the AUKUS partners,” which will require the State Department to certify that Australia and the U.K. have export control regimes “comparable” to that of the U.S. (see 2404030050, 2309270007 and 2307140019). The effort will eventually “enable most defense items to transfer or re-transfer between the three countries without needing further authorization,” the countries said. “This environment will set the conditions for unparalleled levels of defense cooperation between AUKUS partners and enable the integration of our industrial bases to accelerate our technological advantage.”

They also said they want to involve “like-minded partners” in AUKUS Pillar II -- the portion of the pact that calls for greater defense technology collaboration. “Recognizing Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects,” the statement said.

But hours after the defense ministers released their statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Japan would be involved on a case-by-case basis only, and that there are no places to formally invite the country into the group. "What is proposed is to look at 'pillar two' of AUKUS and look at a project-by-project, whether there would be engagement, and Japan is a natural candidate for that to occur," Albanese said during an April 8 news conference, according to Reuters. "What is not proposed is to expand the membership of AUKUS."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to meet with President Joe Biden in Washington April 10.