For subscribers
The fear factors behind the Japan-Australia ‘quasi-alliance’
The Asia-Pacific’s middle powers look to each other amid ‘G-2’ fears.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre, left) and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a welcome ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on May 4.
PHOTO : AFP
James D.J. Brown
Japan and Australia signed multiple agreements this week, elevating their relationship to what Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described as a “quasi-alliance”.
In their remarks in Canberra on May 4, both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ms Takaichi pointed to the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as one driver of the new agreements covering cooperation in areas ranging from defence to energy, food and critical minerals supply chains.
