Shangri-La Dialogue: US and Japan Agree to Accelerate Missile Production

On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on the 30th, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held talks and agreed to accelerate joint development and production of missiles, as well as to promote the sharing of missile defense information among Japan, the US, and Australia. This was the fourth meeting between Koizumi and Hegseth. During the talks, they reached a consensus on accelerating the joint development and manufacturing of interceptor missiles such as the SM-3 Block IIA and the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Koizumi emphasized the importance of strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the US-Japan alliance and explained Japan's recent revisions to its defense equipment transfer guidelines. Hegseth welcomed Japan's measures, stating that US-Japan cooperation contributes to regional peace and prosperity. The two sides also exchanged views on regional security, including China.