Indo-US 2+2 - US-Japan-South Korea Cooperation - Albanese-Xi Visit
2+2 Indo-US Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar will meet their US counterparts Antony J Blinken and Lloyd Austin for the fifth India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue on Friday this week.
The meeting will enable a high-level review of the progress in “cross-cutting aspects of defence and security cooperation, technology value chair collaborations and people-to-people ties”, as well as discussions on how to deepen security cooperation.
South Korea, U.S., Japan holds first-ever joint aerial exercise
Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. conducted their first trilateral aerial exercise. The exercise occurred south of the Korean Peninsula, where Japan and South Korea’s air defence identification zones overlap. The trilateral aerial exercise enhanced interoperability and deepened the relations between the three countries' armed forces. In this exercise, four F-2s of Japan’s Air Self-Defence Force, two F-15Ks of the South Korean Air Force, and three F-16s of the U.S. Air Force participated. Also, a U.S. nuclear-weapons-capable B-52 bomber was part of this exercise.
This exercise comes in the background of growing missile and nuclear threats from North Korea. During the trilateral summit at Camp David in August, the leaders of the three countries agreed to deepen their defence cooperation to deal with North Korea’s threats.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel wrote on X:
“From the Camp David Principles to today’s skies, the inaugural trilateral aerial exercise between the U.S., Japan, and the ROK is a testament to our unwavering resolve. Fortifying our future and shared security. This collaboration marks a new era of defence partnership and credible deterrence”.
Australian Department of Defence and Mitsubishi Electric to develop laser technology
Australian Department of Defence and Mitsubishi Electric Australia, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, a Japanese multinational electronics and electrical equipment manufacturing conglomerate, signed an agreement to develop a cutting-edge laser capability for the Australian Defence Force to enhance its surveillance and survivability capabilities.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, in a press release, said:
This project aims to develop and transition a capability for the Australian military to enhance surveillance and survivability of Australian defence platforms. Development of this capability, based on cutting-edge laser technology developed by Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group, will utilize laser technology fostered by Mitsubishi Electric. With Mitsubishi Electric Australia, Mitsubishi Electric will provide the prototypes and its capabilities
Professor Tanya Monro, Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, noted:
This collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Australia will enable cutting-edge laser technology developed by Australian defence scientists to be transformed into new technologies that protect our Australian Defence Force personnel. This will not only lift Australia’s capability but also deepen our science and technology collaboration with Japan
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to the US
Albanese recently conducted a long-awaited state visit to Washington D.C. with President Joe Biden to discuss the close relationship between Australia and the United States. Several announcements were made, focusing heavily on the Pacific region, climate and the energy transition, and emerging technology and cybersecurity. This was marred somewhat by a deadlock in Congress, which is delaying US legislation that Australia requires to progress the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS arrangements both countries have with the UK. The two leaders focused on branding their countries’ cooperation as an ‘Innovation Alliance’.
The Pacific was a major focus, with more funding announced to help build necessary infrastructure in the region, such as port facilities, submarine cables, and data and cloud services. The U.S. and Australia plan to work together on building maritime infrastructure and laying undersea cables to strengthen internet connectivity. The leaders also recognised the need for more financing for developing countries to help accelerate the achievement of SDG targets, including through the World Bank and the ADB. Within this was the specific issue of climate financing, in which the two states announced a bonds program for small firms in the Indo-Pacific to work on the energy transition and further financing of the US-led Green Climate Fund.
On the technology side, there was an announcement of a $3 billion investment in Australia by Microsoft to expand the company’s data centre and AI infrastructure there over the next two years, train 300 000 Australians with cloud and AI skills and work with the Australian Signal Directorate to create a Cyber Shield to harden Australia to cyber threats. There are also plans to have U.S. companies launch space missions from Australia and make joint progress toward a legal and technical framework to protect sensitive US space launch tech and data in Australia. This was underscored by reference to secure supply chains and the need to ensure rare earth minerals and other materials needed for the energy transition and emerging technologies are accessible.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding a global order underpinned by international rules and norms, steadfast commitment to the Quad and its shared vision of an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and support of regional institutions, namely ASEAN, PIF and IORA.
Curator: Bharat Sharma
Contributors: Bharat Sharma, Kingshuk Saha, Josiah W Neal