Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles is scheduled to meet with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in Hawaii on Thursday to discuss regional security cooperation amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral meeting underscores a growing alignment between the three nations in response to China’s expanding military influence.
According to the Australian government, Marles will engage in strategic talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japan’s Defence Minister Minoru Kihara. The meeting, which will take place at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Honolulu, is expected to cover issues including maritime security, defense interoperability, and regional deterrence.
“This is an important opportunity to deepen our cooperation and coordination with key allies in the region,” Marles said in a statement. He emphasized that the trilateral dialogue reflects shared commitments to upholding peace, stability, and the international rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
The talks come as Australia continues to strengthen its defense ties with the United States and Japan under frameworks such as the AUKUS security pact and other multilateral engagements. Recent joint military exercises and technology-sharing initiatives have marked an increased pace of cooperation among the three countries.
The meeting also comes amid concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and other regional hotspots. Japan and Australia have expressed strong support for maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters and have voiced criticism over China’s territorial claims and military build-up.
During the talks, the defense chiefs are expected to review joint capabilities and assess ongoing collaborative efforts, including integrated air and missile defense strategies and cyber defense cooperation. Strengthening defense industry collaboration and ensuring resilient supply chains will also feature in the discussions.
The Australian government also views the meeting as part of its broader effort to enhance military preparedness and strategic partnerships. Australia’s recent Defense Strategic Review highlighted the importance of deepening alliances and investing in capabilities that support deterrence and regional stability.
In addition to the trilateral meeting, Marles is expected to hold separate bilateral talks with Secretary Austin and Minister Kihara. These discussions are likely to address defense procurement, force posture initiatives, and military training programs.
The Hawaii meeting comes shortly before the upcoming Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, where Indo-Pacific security issues will once again be at the forefront of high-level diplomatic engagements.
The Australian Department of Defence emphasized that these meetings reflect the country’s ongoing commitment to regional peace and highlight the critical importance of robust international partnerships in an increasingly complex security environment.
Source; Reuters
