Japan’s Koizumi Arrives in Singapore for Security Summit

Singapore, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in Singapore on Friday to attend the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which will run for three days through Sunday. During his stay here, Koizumi will meet with his counterparts of the United States and other countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific region, to affirm boosting defense cooperation. Amid concerns over security in East Asia with Washington focused on its military operations against Iran, the Japanese minister intends to work to strengthen deterrence, with China’s increasingly coercive actions in mind. The Asia Security Summit “provides the best opportunity to communicate Japan’s defense policy effectively,” Koizumi told a press conference in Tokyo on Friday before leaving for Singapore. “We want to deepen cooperation with our allies and like-minded countries further,” he said. The security summit will bring together defense ministers and high-ranking military officers from Asia, the United States and Europe. Koizumi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-Back, Philippine National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and others. Koizumi and Hegseth are expected to reaffirm their countries’ strong bilateral alliance. Koizumi and Ahn are expected to discuss such issues as promoting defense exchanges. Japan is also working to arrange the first meeting of defense ministers under a trilateral framework with Australia and New Zealand. Security cooperation through transfers of defense equipment is expected to top the agenda of the envisaged three-way talks. The New Zealand government has selected the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s upgraded Mogami-class frigates as candidates for its navy’s next frigates. Koizumi will deliver a speech at the security conference on Sunday to inform the international community of Japan’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]