Minister of Defense Kishi talked with Defense Minister Singh of India over the phone and agreed to cooperate toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific, with China in mind to strengthen its marine expansion, and added the United States and Australia. He expressed his desire to promote cooperation between defense authorities in the country.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Defense Minister Kishi held a telephone conversation with India's Defense Minister Shin for about 45 minutes for the first time since taking office.
Among them, defense cooperation between the two countries is steadily progressing, such as the signing of the ACSA = Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which enables mutual supply of food and fuel between the Self-Defense Forces and the Indian Army in September. Confirmed that progress has been made to.
On top of that, they said they strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo or any action that would increase tensions against the backdrop of power, with China in mind as it strengthens its marine expansion in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We agreed to continue to work together toward the realization of.
In addition, Minister Kishi said that it is important for countries that share basic values such as democracy and the rule of law to work closely together, and promoted cooperation between defense authorities in four countries, including the United States and Australia. I conveyed the idea that I want to do it.