WEBVTT 00:01.299 --> 00:05.000 Well , welcome everyone to uh this 00:05.010 --> 00:07.860 press conference for uh the trilateral 00:07.869 --> 00:09.980 defense ministers meeting between the 00:09.980 --> 00:13.029 United States , Australia and Japan . 00:13.449 --> 00:16.430 Um I'd like to welcome uh 00:16.440 --> 00:20.190 Secretary Boston . Uh and uh 00:20.200 --> 00:22.959 welcome my good friend Ken Maati , the 00:22.969 --> 00:25.959 Minister for Defence in Japan . Um It 00:25.969 --> 00:29.200 really is uh an honor to have both Ken 00:29.209 --> 00:31.920 and Lloyd here in Australia for this 00:31.930 --> 00:35.310 meeting and specifically here in Darwin , 00:35.630 --> 00:38.919 uh a place which is a defense town . Um 00:38.930 --> 00:41.259 and it is so significant in terms of 00:41.270 --> 00:44.279 Australia's Force Posture by virtue of 00:44.290 --> 00:46.720 the geostrategic significance of 00:46.729 --> 00:49.119 Northern Australia . Uh And , and 00:49.159 --> 00:51.103 Darwin is very much the capital of 00:51.110 --> 00:54.750 northern Australia . Uh This 00:54.759 --> 00:58.130 is uh the most senior uh visit 00:58.229 --> 01:00.389 by an official of the American 01:00.400 --> 01:03.229 government . Uh since President Obama 01:03.240 --> 01:06.709 came here in 2011 to announce the 01:06.720 --> 01:10.089 Marine Rotation . Uh Prime Minister Abe 01:10.099 --> 01:13.910 was here in 2018 . But 01:13.919 --> 01:17.389 uh Minister Nakatani's visit to Darwin 01:17.400 --> 01:20.019 today is the first time that we've had 01:20.099 --> 01:22.550 a Japanese defense Minister come to 01:22.559 --> 01:25.059 Darwin and there is a huge significance 01:25.069 --> 01:28.620 in that and uh befitting the 01:28.629 --> 01:30.989 significance of this meeting . Um And 01:31.000 --> 01:33.839 the visits of both uh Secretary Austin 01:33.849 --> 01:37.279 and Minister Nakatani to uh Australia . 01:37.300 --> 01:40.139 The outcomes of today's trilateral 01:40.150 --> 01:43.239 meeting have been very profound . But 01:43.250 --> 01:46.300 today we are announcing uh that there 01:46.309 --> 01:50.300 will be regular deployments of Japan's 01:50.309 --> 01:53.540 Amphibious rapid deployment brigade to 01:53.550 --> 01:56.319 Australia . Uh And that will have a 01:56.330 --> 02:00.089 particular focus on cooperating with uh 02:00.150 --> 02:02.660 the Australian Defense Force and the 02:02.669 --> 02:04.800 United States Marines . When they are 02:04.809 --> 02:06.980 here as part of the marine rotation , 02:07.400 --> 02:10.360 this is going to build interoperability 02:10.369 --> 02:13.429 between our two countries uh between 02:13.440 --> 02:15.551 our three countries I should say . Uh 02:15.551 --> 02:17.979 but it is a very important statement uh 02:17.990 --> 02:20.046 to the region and to the world about 02:20.046 --> 02:22.268 the commitment that our three countries 02:22.268 --> 02:24.619 have uh in working with each other 02:25.149 --> 02:28.419 today . Uh We are also announcing 02:28.800 --> 02:31.899 uh that our three countries will commit 02:31.910 --> 02:34.289 to consulting with each other in 02:34.419 --> 02:37.979 respect of regional security issues and 02:37.990 --> 02:40.660 contingencies . Uh The significance of 02:40.669 --> 02:44.580 that uh is that it provides a substance , 02:44.679 --> 02:47.779 a structure to the trilateral meeting 02:47.789 --> 02:49.845 of our three countries which has not 02:49.845 --> 02:52.580 been there before and it represents the 02:52.589 --> 02:55.500 ambition that all of us have about 02:55.509 --> 02:58.020 taking this architecture of our three 02:58.029 --> 03:01.259 countries . Uh Even further today , 03:01.270 --> 03:04.410 we're also announcing that uh our three 03:04.419 --> 03:07.139 countries will be cooperating with 03:07.149 --> 03:11.059 India . Uh And India . Um Part of this 03:11.070 --> 03:13.880 announcement , obviously in increased 03:13.889 --> 03:16.889 maritime domain awareness activities . 03:17.139 --> 03:19.699 Uh all of us are maritime nations 03:19.710 --> 03:23.050 including India um and maritime domain 03:23.059 --> 03:25.600 awareness in the oceans around our 03:25.610 --> 03:27.721 respective countries is fundamentally 03:27.721 --> 03:29.832 important to the national security of 03:29.839 --> 03:32.190 each of our four nations and that the 03:32.199 --> 03:34.179 four of us will now work much more 03:34.190 --> 03:36.529 closely together in respect of those 03:36.539 --> 03:38.289 activities . Again , is deeply 03:38.300 --> 03:41.990 significant . Um Finally , uh the , the 03:42.000 --> 03:43.944 last point that I wanna make um um 03:43.944 --> 03:46.130 amongst um a very significant list of 03:46.139 --> 03:48.361 outcomes which has been provided to you 03:48.419 --> 03:51.039 is that our three countries are looking 03:51.050 --> 03:53.309 at every opportunity that we can find 03:53.529 --> 03:55.589 to participate in each other's 03:55.600 --> 03:58.500 exercises within the region . Um And 03:58.509 --> 04:00.676 there would be um you know , more than 04:00.676 --> 04:02.509 a dozen exercises where there is 04:02.509 --> 04:04.620 opportunities at the , for us to work 04:04.620 --> 04:06.842 more closely together and we are taking 04:06.842 --> 04:08.953 those opportunities , but just one of 04:08.953 --> 04:11.065 them um is exercise book book , which 04:11.065 --> 04:12.842 is a bilateral exercise between 04:12.850 --> 04:15.820 Australia and Papua New Guinea . Um 04:15.830 --> 04:19.589 Next year uh in exercise pu 25 04:19.619 --> 04:23.040 both Japan and America will 04:23.049 --> 04:26.019 participate . Um And it is an example 04:26.029 --> 04:28.196 of how our three countries are working 04:28.196 --> 04:30.085 together in that instance , in an 04:30.085 --> 04:32.251 exercise which is profoundly important 04:32.251 --> 04:34.029 for Papua New Guinea . That was 04:34.029 --> 04:36.085 interesting . Um Hopefully , you can 04:36.085 --> 04:38.290 still see us um that , that couple of 04:38.299 --> 04:41.040 how that exercise . Um I is really 04:41.049 --> 04:43.829 important for Papua New Guinea . Um But 04:43.839 --> 04:46.070 it's um but it is the way in which our 04:46.079 --> 04:48.390 three countries are working together to 04:48.399 --> 04:50.121 build interoperability amongst 04:50.121 --> 04:52.829 ourselves , but to provide for the 04:52.839 --> 04:54.895 collective security of the region in 04:54.895 --> 04:57.006 which we all live . And to provide an 04:57.006 --> 04:59.006 assertion of the global rules based 04:59.010 --> 05:01.399 order which all of our countries are so 05:01.410 --> 05:04.390 deeply committed to , uh Lloyd again . 05:04.399 --> 05:06.621 It really has been an honor to have you 05:06.621 --> 05:08.732 here today . Um , finally I just want 05:08.732 --> 05:10.899 to say something in , in , in relation 05:10.899 --> 05:14.809 to Lloyd . Um , I've , um , worked very 05:14.820 --> 05:17.042 closely with Lloyd Austin over the last 05:17.042 --> 05:19.070 2.5 years . I've said this on many 05:19.079 --> 05:20.859 occasions . I , I , of all my 05:20.869 --> 05:23.269 counterparts around the world . Um , 05:23.279 --> 05:25.790 Lloyd Austin is the person with whom I 05:25.799 --> 05:28.230 have met the most um have the closest 05:28.239 --> 05:30.572 of relationships . But I'm really aware , 05:30.572 --> 05:32.750 I'd be one of 2030 defense ministers 05:32.760 --> 05:34.982 around the world who would say the same 05:34.982 --> 05:37.149 thing . Um And that speaks volumes 05:37.160 --> 05:39.829 about the effort that Lloyd Austin has 05:39.839 --> 05:43.480 put in . Um over uh the now near four 05:43.489 --> 05:45.656 years that he has served as the United 05:45.656 --> 05:48.790 States Secretary of Defense . Um Lloyd 05:48.799 --> 05:51.000 has been a champion for the Global 05:51.010 --> 05:53.899 Rules based Order . Um And in that , he 05:53.910 --> 05:56.059 has been a champion for peace around 05:56.070 --> 05:59.170 the world . Uh He has been a close 05:59.179 --> 06:01.570 friend of Australia and I know uh of 06:01.579 --> 06:04.769 Japan as well . Um A person who has 06:04.779 --> 06:07.279 been deeply active in our region . I 06:07.290 --> 06:09.290 think this is his 12th visit to the 06:09.290 --> 06:12.549 region . Um But I know uh as we were 06:12.559 --> 06:14.670 talking last night , that is his most 06:14.670 --> 06:16.781 recent meeting where , where both Gan 06:16.781 --> 06:18.837 and Lloyd met with each other was in 06:18.837 --> 06:20.781 Naples , I think as part of the G7 06:20.781 --> 06:22.948 defense Ministers meeting , um Lloyd's 06:22.948 --> 06:25.003 been committed to the Indo Pacific . 06:25.003 --> 06:27.170 He's been committed to uh East Eastern 06:27.170 --> 06:29.570 Europe . Um He has uh played the role 06:29.579 --> 06:31.980 that you would expect of a Secretary of 06:31.989 --> 06:34.730 Defense of America as , as a global 06:34.739 --> 06:36.906 power . And Lloyd , we really wish you 06:37.040 --> 06:39.399 um the best of the future . Thank you 06:39.410 --> 06:42.209 for your friendship , but thank you for 06:42.220 --> 06:44.220 the steadfast way in which you have 06:44.230 --> 06:46.529 supported the bilateral relationship 06:46.540 --> 06:48.873 between Australia and the United States , 06:48.873 --> 06:51.040 but also uh the security of the region 06:51.040 --> 06:53.262 in which we all live , but the security 06:53.262 --> 06:55.809 of the world . Um I we will be staying 06:55.820 --> 06:57.931 in touch , but we will , we will miss 06:57.931 --> 07:01.170 you , miss you deeply . Uh Deputy Prime 07:01.179 --> 07:03.179 Minister Marles Richard . It , it's 07:03.179 --> 07:05.401 great to see you again . And thanks for 07:05.401 --> 07:07.623 those generous uh comments . I guess if 07:07.623 --> 07:09.790 I were truly a wise man , I would stop 07:09.790 --> 07:12.720 here , right ? But I really appreciate 07:12.730 --> 07:15.480 it . And thanks for we welcoming us to , 07:15.489 --> 07:18.000 to Darwin Minister Nakatani . It's a 07:18.010 --> 07:20.600 pleasure to see you again as well . Um 07:20.929 --> 07:23.151 You know , this is the fourth time that 07:23.151 --> 07:25.040 I participated in this trilateral 07:25.040 --> 07:27.096 format as Secretary of Defense . And 07:27.096 --> 07:29.151 over the past four years , our three 07:29.151 --> 07:31.151 democracies have accomplished a lot 07:31.151 --> 07:33.262 together . We've announced trilateral 07:33.262 --> 07:36.339 Corporation on F-35s . We're working to 07:36.350 --> 07:39.359 integrate Japan into us Australia Force 07:39.369 --> 07:42.299 Posture Corporation in Australia and 07:42.309 --> 07:44.253 Japan and Australia have exercised 07:44.253 --> 07:46.410 their reciprocal access agreement 07:46.660 --> 07:48.660 through deployments to each other's 07:48.660 --> 07:51.279 countries today . More than ever . 07:51.690 --> 07:53.912 We're taking concrete actions that will 07:53.912 --> 07:56.369 deepen our trilateral corporation and 07:56.380 --> 07:59.170 the three of us are here to see the 07:59.179 --> 08:02.380 results . Firsthand . Darwin is a focal 08:02.390 --> 08:04.940 point for our expanding trilateral 08:04.950 --> 08:07.820 relationship and our bond is delivering 08:07.829 --> 08:10.559 real security deterrence and 08:10.570 --> 08:13.600 interoperability . Today , we discuss 08:13.609 --> 08:16.640 the next steps to expand our exercises 08:16.649 --> 08:19.089 and training . And Japan's commitment 08:19.100 --> 08:21.339 to annual trilateral amphibious 08:21.350 --> 08:22.961 training in the Indo Pacific 08:23.220 --> 08:25.820 demonstrates our momentum including 08:25.829 --> 08:28.410 with the marine rotational force . 08:28.420 --> 08:30.679 Darwin here in Northern Australia . 08:31.700 --> 08:33.644 We're also elevating key bilateral 08:33.644 --> 08:36.280 exercises into trilateral exercises . 08:36.919 --> 08:39.039 And Australia will now participate in 08:39.049 --> 08:41.499 ground force exercises , Yama Sakura 08:42.018 --> 08:44.669 and orient shield along with joint 08:44.679 --> 08:47.218 exercises such as keen edge and keen 08:47.229 --> 08:51.229 sword . And starting in 2025 08:51.469 --> 08:53.469 will increase the complexity of our 08:53.469 --> 08:56.539 trilateral exercises including Southern 08:56.549 --> 08:58.989 Jarro and Talisman Sabre 09:00.150 --> 09:02.979 looking for further out Talisman Saber 09:03.020 --> 09:06.200 2027 we will include an air and missile 09:06.210 --> 09:08.799 defense , live fire event and taken 09:08.809 --> 09:11.849 together . This is major progress and 09:11.859 --> 09:13.970 it will help ensure a more stable and 09:13.970 --> 09:17.190 prosperous region beyond these exercise 09:17.200 --> 09:19.789 milestones . Today , we welcome Japan's 09:19.799 --> 09:23.390 increased participation in us Australia 09:23.400 --> 09:26.169 Force Posture activities through this 09:26.179 --> 09:28.239 work . We're eager to deepen Japan's 09:28.250 --> 09:30.083 Cooper operation with the Marine 09:30.083 --> 09:32.859 Rotational Force , Darwin . And we 09:32.869 --> 09:35.036 continued , we will , we will continue 09:35.036 --> 09:37.036 to grow our trilateral intelligence 09:37.036 --> 09:38.591 sharing and to increase our 09:38.591 --> 09:40.369 surveillance and reconnaissance 09:40.369 --> 09:43.659 activities . Today , I'm also pleased 09:43.669 --> 09:46.380 to support Australia's increased 09:46.390 --> 09:48.849 participation in the US , Japan 09:48.859 --> 09:51.059 bilateral information analysis cell , 09:52.130 --> 09:54.019 the intelligence capabilities and 09:54.019 --> 09:56.630 professionalism of Australia's forces 09:56.640 --> 09:59.349 will be a force multiplier and that 09:59.359 --> 10:01.669 will advance our goals for a secure and 10:01.679 --> 10:05.150 peaceful Indo Pacific . And finally , 10:05.159 --> 10:06.937 we're excited to build advanced 10:06.937 --> 10:09.159 capabilities with Japan and Australia . 10:10.010 --> 10:11.677 We're moving forward with our 10:11.677 --> 10:13.799 trilateral research development test 10:13.809 --> 10:15.900 and evaluation project projects 10:15.909 --> 10:19.099 arrangement focusing on composite 10:19.109 --> 10:21.150 aerospace materials and autonomous 10:21.159 --> 10:24.789 systems . In the same vein , we're 10:24.799 --> 10:26.410 deepening our discussions on 10:26.410 --> 10:28.243 co-operative combat aircraft and 10:28.243 --> 10:30.669 autonomy and we're also discussing 10:31.070 --> 10:33.140 opportunities to boost co-operation 10:33.150 --> 10:35.809 with Japan on August pillar two 10:35.820 --> 10:38.080 projects . And we're committed to 10:38.090 --> 10:40.201 working together in these areas . And 10:40.201 --> 10:42.257 Deputy Prime Minister M and Minister 10:42.257 --> 10:45.869 Makani , thanks for your leadership and 10:45.880 --> 10:48.450 your commitment to security in the Indo 10:48.460 --> 10:51.460 Pacific . I am absolutely proud of all 10:51.469 --> 10:53.525 that we've accomplished together and 10:53.525 --> 10:55.636 together we're continuing to build on 10:55.636 --> 10:57.747 the progress our three countries have 10:57.750 --> 11:00.340 achieved over the past four years and I 11:00.349 --> 11:02.516 look forward to continuing to grow our 11:02.516 --> 11:05.400 partnership and to endure well into the 11:05.409 --> 11:07.739 future . And thanks very much and 11:07.750 --> 11:11.590 Minister Nakatani or to you . Hi , 11:11.599 --> 11:15.400 I am Ken Nakatani but I'm not a genie , 11:16.650 --> 11:20.099 not the PDO , my name uh Nyon . 11:20.900 --> 11:23.000 Okay , node uh Doo and 11:25.960 --> 11:29.750 uh has many uh Richardo eo uh 11:29.979 --> 11:30.809 H Kano Kani 11:34.390 --> 11:37.510 uh Kia on the moma in 11:38.429 --> 11:42.219 it . There are my step 11:43.559 --> 11:47.429 uh bea rotation uh 11:47.549 --> 11:50.739 Australia Hoko also the Arias Dai 11:53.099 --> 11:56.250 N Australia . No . 11:57.070 --> 12:00.580 Oh boy , 12:01.739 --> 12:02.739 where you go ? 12:06.890 --> 12:07.890 Because I must . 12:32.880 --> 12:35.510 No . Uh Costa can Kara 12:37.440 --> 12:39.239 Ni way go bo ky 12:40.690 --> 12:43.650 CDC . You 12:52.950 --> 12:54.283 mechanism to , you know 12:57.080 --> 13:00.239 KKKK . No , 13:00.900 --> 13:03.250 it's just there , Cesa Cruzado 13:05.250 --> 13:09.080 Unai a 13:16.780 --> 13:27.150 TX . 13:31.280 --> 13:32.280 No , 13:38.510 --> 13:40.729 send your initiative . 13:45.159 --> 13:46.159 It's just that 14:01.869 --> 14:05.650 Bo Bo Arctic architecture 14:10.559 --> 14:11.210 uh you 14:18.909 --> 14:20.570 know . No , no . A a 14:24.320 --> 14:27.919 so the uh TD 14:28.030 --> 14:28.969 CNN 14:33.900 --> 14:34.429 go to 14:39.559 --> 14:43.309 what a Banisi Bay . Uh nn no nn 14:45.229 --> 14:48.710 no . Can 14:51.919 --> 14:54.869 you cook ? So that was , I must 14:58.059 --> 15:01.609 thank you . Right . Uh 15:01.619 --> 15:04.080 So I've got a list of uh um 15:04.090 --> 15:07.520 questionnaires here . Um We are short 15:07.530 --> 15:09.641 on time . We're not gonna get through 15:09.641 --> 15:11.863 them all three , lots of three , but we 15:11.863 --> 15:13.919 will do our best . So we're starting 15:13.919 --> 15:15.974 with Matthew no , of the nine papers 15:17.950 --> 15:20.400 uh uh to uh Secretary Austin and , and 15:20.409 --> 15:22.750 Minister Miles . Um uh given the very 15:22.760 --> 15:25.940 well documented problems with uh the US 15:25.950 --> 15:28.150 uh submarine production lines . Uh How 15:28.159 --> 15:30.381 worried should Australians be that they 15:30.381 --> 15:33.059 won't be able to uh receive a Virginia 15:33.070 --> 15:35.539 class submarine uh from the United 15:35.549 --> 15:37.605 States and should Australia as we're 15:37.605 --> 15:39.716 looking ahead to a new administration 15:39.716 --> 15:41.849 have to be prepared to pay more than 15:41.859 --> 15:43.969 what we've already committed to , to 15:44.020 --> 15:46.830 boost uh the , the production lines 15:46.840 --> 15:48.673 there , you know , is , is or so 15:48.673 --> 15:50.840 embedded that it will survive a change 15:50.840 --> 15:54.229 of administration . Uh uh I'll go first , 15:54.239 --> 15:56.239 Richard . I , I'm confident that uh 15:56.369 --> 15:59.119 we're gonna be able to provide uh the 15:59.130 --> 16:01.463 capabilities that we set out to provide . 16:01.463 --> 16:03.352 Now , we recognize that there are 16:03.352 --> 16:05.409 challenges uh in the uh in the 16:05.419 --> 16:07.630 industrial base and , and we're doing 16:07.640 --> 16:09.696 things to address those challenges , 16:09.696 --> 16:13.190 we're investing more uh so that uh you 16:13.200 --> 16:15.311 know , we can speed up the production 16:15.311 --> 16:17.478 to meet our objectives going forward . 16:17.478 --> 16:19.840 And uh and , you know , I've met with 16:19.849 --> 16:23.669 uh the uh leadership of the , uh 16:23.679 --> 16:26.750 the companies that are producing uh uh 16:26.760 --> 16:29.469 submarines and uh I'm encouraged by 16:29.479 --> 16:31.479 what they're doing and the fo their 16:31.479 --> 16:34.650 focus uh to uh to get things to get 16:34.659 --> 16:36.770 this done and they will get it done . 16:36.830 --> 16:40.460 Um So , um from a production standpoint , 16:40.510 --> 16:42.566 we're gonna continue to do the right 16:42.566 --> 16:44.399 things to do the things that are 16:44.399 --> 16:46.729 necessary to ensure that we can uh make 16:46.739 --> 16:48.683 our uh meet our objectives . And I 16:48.683 --> 16:50.739 would point out that we've met every 16:50.739 --> 16:52.572 benchmark that we've set out for 16:52.572 --> 16:54.683 ourselves with August to this point . 16:54.683 --> 16:57.010 Uh And we , we have a , a very well 16:57.020 --> 17:00.780 structured uh um management system that , 17:00.789 --> 17:03.659 and we , we uh converse with each other 17:03.669 --> 17:06.569 frequently on , on uh you know , how 17:06.579 --> 17:08.912 we're doing and what the challenges are . 17:08.912 --> 17:10.968 And we're , again , I see commitment 17:10.968 --> 17:13.250 from all three countries uh to get this 17:13.260 --> 17:15.829 done . And I would also say that I've 17:15.839 --> 17:19.209 seen uh in the United States bipartisan 17:19.219 --> 17:22.439 support in our Congress uh for August . 17:22.719 --> 17:25.089 Uh We recognize that uh this is a 17:25.099 --> 17:27.290 generational capability that will make 17:27.300 --> 17:29.930 a significant difference in uh 17:29.939 --> 17:32.709 promoting uh security and stability in 17:32.719 --> 17:36.140 the Indo Pacific region . Uh Well , so 17:36.150 --> 17:38.483 let me start off by saying what he said . 17:38.483 --> 17:41.300 Um But uh and , and I think what Lloyd 17:41.310 --> 17:43.979 has articulated , does uh go to the , 17:43.989 --> 17:46.211 the , the , the question that you asked 17:46.211 --> 17:47.933 Matthew in respect of um where 17:47.933 --> 17:51.189 America's production um I is , is up to . 17:51.369 --> 17:53.147 Um And so we do have a sense of 17:53.147 --> 17:56.449 confidence um about um the fulfillment 17:56.459 --> 17:58.515 of the timelines that we articulated 17:58.515 --> 18:00.626 when we announced the optimal pathway 18:00.626 --> 18:03.079 back in uh March of last year . Uh But 18:03.089 --> 18:05.145 perhaps go to the last point of your 18:05.145 --> 18:07.367 question is , is August , you know , de 18:07.367 --> 18:09.589 deeply embedded . Uh I think the answer 18:09.589 --> 18:11.422 to that is yes and again , Lloyd 18:11.422 --> 18:13.709 alluded to it , but we have seen um in 18:13.719 --> 18:16.109 the United States uh across the 18:16.119 --> 18:18.230 political spectrum . This time , last 18:18.230 --> 18:20.109 year , legislation passed the US 18:20.119 --> 18:22.286 Congress with the support of Democrats 18:22.286 --> 18:24.508 Republicans , Trump Republicans , which 18:24.508 --> 18:26.800 saw , for example , um the legislative 18:26.810 --> 18:29.209 underpinning of the sale of Virginia 18:29.219 --> 18:31.330 class submarines to Australia , it uh 18:31.330 --> 18:34.560 had the um creation of a seamless 18:34.569 --> 18:36.791 defense industrial base between our two 18:36.791 --> 18:39.013 countries . But the important point was 18:39.013 --> 18:41.180 it was supported across the board . Uh 18:41.180 --> 18:42.791 Lloyd and I were having this 18:42.791 --> 18:45.125 conversation last night this uh uh well , 18:45.125 --> 18:47.458 I just alluded to now , I it , you know , 18:47.458 --> 18:49.569 this is a , a multidecadal program um 18:49.569 --> 18:51.347 just as the alliance has been a 18:51.347 --> 18:53.458 multidecadal relationship between our 18:53.458 --> 18:55.792 two countries that can happen . Uh It , 18:55.802 --> 18:57.969 it , the , you know , the basis of the 18:57.969 --> 19:00.191 alliance um is shared values , but it's 19:00.191 --> 19:02.413 a shared strategic objective and shared 19:02.413 --> 19:04.993 strategic advantage . And Aus is in the 19:05.003 --> 19:07.272 strategic interest of both the United 19:07.282 --> 19:09.504 States and Australia . And , and that's 19:09.504 --> 19:11.826 the fundamental here . Um as it is for 19:11.836 --> 19:13.780 Britain And so , you know , we are 19:13.786 --> 19:17.505 seeing um Aus uh th th survived 19:17.515 --> 19:20.365 change of governments in Australia um 19:20.385 --> 19:22.274 in the United Kingdom and it will 19:22.274 --> 19:24.496 happen in America as well . Um I , this 19:24.496 --> 19:27.406 is really deeply embedded across uh the , 19:27.416 --> 19:29.638 the political spectrum in all our three 19:29.638 --> 19:31.806 countries um because it is in the 19:31.816 --> 19:33.872 strategic interests of all our three 19:33.872 --> 19:36.829 countries . I'm saying it . Yeah , 19:36.989 --> 19:39.760 thank you so much . Um Secretary Austin 19:39.770 --> 19:42.310 first uh President Sy said , I believe 19:42.319 --> 19:44.375 yesterday that he believes the Trump 19:44.375 --> 19:46.319 administration will end the war in 19:46.319 --> 19:48.541 Ukraine faster . Um Do you believe that 19:48.541 --> 19:50.652 this administration did not move fast 19:50.652 --> 19:52.819 enough in its efforts to end the war ? 19:52.819 --> 19:54.986 What is your response to that ? Um And 19:54.986 --> 19:57.041 for ministers , Matana Moral um have 19:57.041 --> 19:59.208 either of you spoken uh with President 19:59.208 --> 20:01.208 Elect Trump or his team and sort of 20:01.208 --> 20:00.849 what are your expectations , I guess to 20:00.859 --> 20:03.081 follow up on that last question of this 20:03.081 --> 20:05.137 relationship moving forward with the 20:05.137 --> 20:06.915 administration ? Thanks for the 20:06.915 --> 20:08.748 question , Hayley . It , it goes 20:08.748 --> 20:11.290 without saying that uh based upon our 20:11.300 --> 20:13.369 support and the support of some 50 20:14.060 --> 20:16.849 other countries . Uh We have put uh 20:16.859 --> 20:19.160 Ukraine in a place where it was able to 20:19.170 --> 20:21.349 defend itself , defend its sovereignty 20:21.589 --> 20:24.770 against the largest military in Europe 20:24.780 --> 20:28.719 for 2.5 years . Uh And so if you 20:28.729 --> 20:30.949 look at the , the , the , the broader 20:30.959 --> 20:33.750 uh picture here , you heard me say 20:33.760 --> 20:36.609 before , Putin has not achieved one 20:36.619 --> 20:39.790 strategic objective in 2.5 years , over 20:39.800 --> 20:42.729 2.5 years and , and he's lost a lot of 20:42.739 --> 20:45.229 people , uh , in his misguided , uh , 20:45.239 --> 20:49.209 endeavor . So , um , this war could 20:49.219 --> 20:51.219 end today . It could have ended two 20:51.219 --> 20:54.329 years ago or 2.5 years ago . If Putin 20:54.420 --> 20:56.476 would have decided to make the right 20:56.476 --> 20:58.900 decision and pull his , his forces out 20:58.910 --> 21:00.819 of Ukraine . Uh , this is an 21:00.829 --> 21:04.489 unjustified and unprovoked invasion and , 21:04.500 --> 21:06.869 and so all of us would want , want to 21:06.880 --> 21:10.839 see uh this resolved soon uh sooner 21:10.849 --> 21:13.160 versus later . But again , we want to 21:13.170 --> 21:15.281 make sure that Ukraine is in the best 21:15.281 --> 21:17.281 position to protect its interests , 21:17.380 --> 21:19.609 however , it's resolved in the future . 21:19.619 --> 21:21.730 And I believe that as you've heard me 21:21.730 --> 21:23.952 say before , at the end of the day , it 21:23.952 --> 21:25.952 will be resolved , resolved through 21:25.952 --> 21:28.510 negotiation . So , um again , Putin 21:28.520 --> 21:30.687 could end this today and he should end 21:30.687 --> 21:33.869 it today because it is an unprovoked 21:34.150 --> 21:36.339 and unjustified invasion . 22:05.390 --> 22:07.930 No . Uh no , 22:11.310 --> 22:12.310 I 22:17.890 --> 22:18.890 go . No . 22:27.680 --> 22:31.329 Uh So uh 22:32.790 --> 22:33.790 Koki 22:40.280 --> 22:40.680 system 22:45.800 --> 22:49.489 uh k uh 22:49.790 --> 22:51.530 k uh 22:55.569 --> 22:58.199 ko you need to 23:06.630 --> 23:07.630 go 23:12.829 --> 23:13.829 or 23:19.949 --> 23:20.949 not . 23:23.619 --> 23:27.420 Um uh Hayley , the uh Prime 23:27.430 --> 23:29.208 Minister Albanese spoke with uh 23:29.208 --> 23:32.920 President Trump uh after I in the few 23:32.930 --> 23:36.800 days subsequent to uh the election , um 23:36.819 --> 23:39.041 in answer to your question about what , 23:39.041 --> 23:41.640 what we expect from the incoming Trump 23:41.650 --> 23:44.579 administration . You know , Australia's 23:45.319 --> 23:47.319 Australia's interest , but it's not 23:47.319 --> 23:51.140 just Australia um is so bound up in 23:51.939 --> 23:54.459 American global leadership . Um 23:54.469 --> 23:56.540 American global leadership since the 23:56.550 --> 23:58.910 end of the Second World War um is 23:58.920 --> 24:01.260 really what has underpinned the 24:01.270 --> 24:03.381 establishment of a global rules based 24:03.381 --> 24:05.326 order by which differences between 24:05.326 --> 24:08.979 countries can be uh resolved , 24:08.989 --> 24:11.267 not in accordance with power and might , 24:11.267 --> 24:13.545 but in accordance with the rule of law . 24:13.545 --> 24:15.600 Um why that is in the interests of a 24:15.600 --> 24:17.656 country like Australia is because it 24:17.656 --> 24:19.822 gives us agency . Um most countries in 24:19.822 --> 24:21.989 the world uh obviously not of the size 24:21.989 --> 24:24.310 of , of , of the United States . Um uh 24:24.349 --> 24:27.099 having a system which enables uh 24:27.109 --> 24:29.819 disputes to be worked out in accordance 24:29.829 --> 24:32.051 with international law actually is what 24:32.051 --> 24:34.540 builds the sovereignty of a nation like 24:34.550 --> 24:38.060 Australia . So what we uh look 24:38.069 --> 24:40.819 to um always in respect of the United 24:40.829 --> 24:43.209 States is that global leadership . Now 24:43.219 --> 24:45.910 we are confident uh that we will see 24:45.920 --> 24:48.469 that from uh the incoming Trump 24:48.479 --> 24:51.150 administration . Um When you , you , 24:51.160 --> 24:54.310 you look at what uh those who have been 24:54.319 --> 24:56.579 associated with uh President Trump's 24:56.589 --> 24:59.670 campaign have said um in respect of 24:59.680 --> 25:01.569 America's place in the world , it 25:01.569 --> 25:03.810 speaks to American leadership . Um When 25:03.819 --> 25:05.708 you look at the appointments that 25:05.708 --> 25:07.541 President Trump has made for his 25:07.541 --> 25:09.708 incoming administration , uh these are 25:09.708 --> 25:12.209 people who have spoken to American 25:12.219 --> 25:14.500 leadership . Um and it's not just by 25:14.510 --> 25:16.732 word , although it is by word , it's by 25:16.732 --> 25:18.788 action I referenced earlier when you 25:18.788 --> 25:20.954 look at what happened uh going through 25:20.954 --> 25:23.177 the United States Congress last year in 25:23.177 --> 25:25.343 terms of Australia's key equity in our 25:25.343 --> 25:27.566 alliance with the United States , which 25:27.566 --> 25:29.510 is uh the aus arrangement that was 25:29.510 --> 25:31.732 supported across the board um by people 25:31.732 --> 25:33.677 who would identify themselves with 25:33.677 --> 25:35.399 President Trump . Um So we are 25:35.399 --> 25:37.435 confident that a future um 25:38.045 --> 25:41.505 administration um will stand by um 25:41.515 --> 25:43.348 America's place in the world and 25:43.348 --> 25:45.404 American leadership . Uh And that is 25:45.404 --> 25:48.125 fundamentally uh what Australia and for 25:48.135 --> 25:50.246 that matter , I think the world needs 25:50.246 --> 25:52.024 to see . Ah , but we are really 25:52.024 --> 25:54.135 confident that we will see it uh from 25:54.135 --> 25:56.413 President Trump and his administration . 25:56.819 --> 25:59.041 Uh I hope I'm saying this right . Inada 25:59.041 --> 26:01.369 Kiyoshi from NHK . Yeah . So Kyoshi 26:01.609 --> 26:03.720 from , let me ask you , you know , in 26:03.720 --> 26:03.660 Japanese . 26:31.300 --> 26:35.199 Hi and welcome to uh I used to know , 26:35.310 --> 26:38.819 do I uh do 26:41.349 --> 26:42.349 uh uh uh uh 26:47.709 --> 26:48.709 uh 26:52.650 --> 26:55.410 N ba go 26:56.829 --> 27:00.609 uh uh no , no , uh 27:01.949 --> 27:02.949 no , 27:10.280 --> 27:12.209 uh uh 27:15.900 --> 27:16.819 you know , and 27:20.160 --> 27:21.160 uh 27:29.109 --> 27:30.109 go 27:34.199 --> 27:35.199 uh 27:46.569 --> 27:47.569 uh uh 27:58.020 --> 28:01.430 KT DC uh 28:04.760 --> 28:05.760 uh 28:09.040 --> 28:12.180 you know , uh 28:15.050 --> 28:15.800 oh no . 28:26.290 --> 28:27.679 Uh uh I must know that . 28:31.010 --> 28:32.010 No , 28:53.630 --> 28:55.852 thank you . Uh Ben Packham Australian . 28:57.500 --> 28:59.722 Uh Thank you , um Mr Secretary Austin . 28:59.722 --> 29:02.160 Um You're a decorated four star general . 29:02.170 --> 29:04.369 You've been to the region 12 times as 29:04.380 --> 29:06.269 secretary , I believe . Um Do you 29:06.269 --> 29:08.099 believe Peter He Hegseth is uh 29:08.109 --> 29:10.276 qualified to lead the Pentagon and can 29:10.276 --> 29:12.520 we have faith in him to maintain us 29:12.530 --> 29:14.641 commitments in this part of the world 29:14.641 --> 29:17.420 and um to uh Mr Miles ? Um Andrew 29:17.430 --> 29:20.280 Hasting says he uh relishes the 29:20.290 --> 29:23.719 prospect of working with uh Mr He uh 29:24.449 --> 29:26.589 um he , he's a very different kind of 29:26.599 --> 29:28.766 person than secretary Austin . Uh What 29:28.766 --> 29:30.877 about you ? Do you think you can work 29:30.877 --> 29:33.449 with him ? Uh Thanks for the question . 29:34.180 --> 29:36.402 Uh I would just highlight that it's the 29:36.402 --> 29:38.599 prerogative of the president elect to 29:38.609 --> 29:41.800 nominate uh whoever uh he deems uh 29:41.810 --> 29:44.119 appropriate uh to serve on his cabinet . 29:44.760 --> 29:47.819 Um As far as dod is concerned , you 29:47.829 --> 29:51.160 know , we remain focused on uh a smooth 29:51.479 --> 29:54.750 and uh and effective transition to the 29:54.760 --> 29:57.589 next administration . Um Beyond that , 29:57.599 --> 29:59.710 I would say , I'm really proud of the 29:59.710 --> 30:01.780 things that this administration has 30:01.790 --> 30:04.012 accomplished over the last four years . 30:04.079 --> 30:06.246 Uh in terms of , you know , what we've 30:06.246 --> 30:08.250 done in this region to strengthen 30:08.260 --> 30:11.709 alliances and uh and to um 30:11.949 --> 30:14.550 work with countries that share the 30:14.560 --> 30:18.199 vision of a free and open Indo Pacific . 30:18.540 --> 30:21.229 And again , our , 30:22.800 --> 30:25.989 our focus will remain on uh affecting a 30:26.000 --> 30:28.459 smooth and orderly transition . I would 30:28.469 --> 30:31.300 just say that , uh you know , this is a , 30:31.310 --> 30:34.349 this is a large enterprise dod and uh 30:34.719 --> 30:37.510 it often involves uh making life and 30:37.520 --> 30:40.900 death decisions uh on a , you know , on 30:40.910 --> 30:43.329 a near daily basis . Uh and uh and 30:43.339 --> 30:45.506 accounting for and taking care of some 30:45.760 --> 30:49.380 2.7 million um uh uh 30:49.619 --> 30:51.841 soldiers , sailors , airmen , marines , 30:51.841 --> 30:54.780 guardians , uh and uh and really 30:54.790 --> 30:57.579 remaining focused on protecting uh the 30:57.589 --> 30:59.645 country and protecting our interests 30:59.645 --> 31:03.640 around the globe . Uh 31:04.430 --> 31:07.670 Well , um Ben , I ask you a question , 31:07.680 --> 31:10.670 I , I too uh look forward to building a 31:10.680 --> 31:13.410 relationship with Pete Hex . Um The 31:13.550 --> 31:15.719 role of Secretary of defense of the 31:15.729 --> 31:17.949 United States is a huge global role . 31:17.959 --> 31:20.126 Um And it's an enormous honor for Pete 31:20.126 --> 31:22.609 Hex to be uh being put forward by 31:22.619 --> 31:26.250 President Trump to uh fulfill that role . 31:26.579 --> 31:28.800 Uh I , I think we've seen around the 31:28.810 --> 31:30.910 world today , people coming from a 31:30.920 --> 31:33.150 range of different places and 31:33.160 --> 31:35.829 perspectives to occupy posts in 31:35.839 --> 31:38.219 government . Um And you know , that 31:38.229 --> 31:41.160 breadth of experience um is I , I it 31:41.170 --> 31:44.180 can be um it , it really important , I 31:44.189 --> 31:46.411 mean , obviously , I don't carry any uh 31:46.411 --> 31:48.800 military experience personally into the 31:48.810 --> 31:50.869 role that I undertake as Australia's 31:50.880 --> 31:53.589 Minister for Defence . Um So in no 31:53.599 --> 31:55.710 sense , do , am I gonna say that it's 31:55.710 --> 31:57.266 uh that , that represents a 31:57.266 --> 32:00.209 prerequisite ? Um And I think um uh 32:00.219 --> 32:03.079 Pete Hegseth , um I is somebody who 32:03.089 --> 32:05.200 will have an enormous challenge ahead 32:05.209 --> 32:07.431 of him because that is what it is to be 32:07.431 --> 32:09.489 the Secretary of Defense . Um 32:09.660 --> 32:11.859 Everything that I've heard about Pete 32:11.869 --> 32:15.859 Hex since his uh name became public is 32:15.869 --> 32:17.702 uh in terms of in the context of 32:17.702 --> 32:19.813 becoming the Secretary of Defense has 32:19.813 --> 32:22.540 been positive . Um And I approached the 32:22.550 --> 32:25.189 uh prospect of getting to know Pete Hex 32:25.390 --> 32:28.140 and working with him um with enormous 32:28.150 --> 32:31.770 optimism . Uh Noah from defense 32:31.780 --> 32:34.680 news . Thank you . Uh First off to 32:34.689 --> 32:36.800 Secretary Austin , can you give us an 32:36.800 --> 32:38.911 assessment of how effective you think 32:38.911 --> 32:41.022 North Korea troops that have deployed 32:41.022 --> 32:42.911 fighting first have been fighting 32:42.911 --> 32:45.022 alongside the Russian military ? Also 32:45.022 --> 32:46.856 your sense of whether it will be 32:46.856 --> 32:48.856 possible to draw down the remaining 32:48.856 --> 32:51.000 replenishment aid for Ukraine before 32:51.010 --> 32:53.199 this administration ends in January . 32:53.400 --> 32:55.880 And to the non General Minister 32:55.890 --> 32:58.839 Nagatani , could you please uh explain 32:58.939 --> 33:01.109 whether Japan like the Philippines is 33:01.119 --> 33:04.109 interested in purchasing or rotating in 33:04.119 --> 33:06.510 a midrange capability like the US has 33:06.520 --> 33:08.920 put um through the political exercise 33:08.930 --> 33:11.630 in the Philippines this year . And um 33:12.089 --> 33:14.311 the Army Secretary suggested this could 33:14.311 --> 33:16.533 be helpful for the US and Japan if they 33:16.533 --> 33:18.756 went forward . Do you have any comments 33:18.756 --> 33:21.033 on that ? Uh Thanks for your questions . 33:21.033 --> 33:23.050 Um First of all , regarding the 33:23.060 --> 33:26.530 effectiveness of the D Pr K troops , um 33:26.949 --> 33:29.239 we've not seen much fighting from them 33:29.250 --> 33:31.900 at this point , but I am , you know , 33:31.910 --> 33:34.021 my , my belief is that we'll see that 33:34.021 --> 33:36.810 soon . Now , I think that uh a force 33:36.819 --> 33:40.760 like this will undergo the 33:40.770 --> 33:43.000 challenges that we would expect in that 33:43.010 --> 33:45.510 there is a language issue that uh they 33:45.520 --> 33:47.790 have to overcome and in working with 33:47.800 --> 33:50.130 their Russian counterparts . Uh There's 33:50.140 --> 33:52.739 not , uh there's not been the same kind 33:52.750 --> 33:56.680 of training and uh in 33:56.900 --> 33:59.079 development that we've seen amongst uh 33:59.089 --> 34:01.256 the our allies here . And we just , we 34:01.256 --> 34:03.478 were just out visiting our troops today 34:03.478 --> 34:05.533 and talking about interoperability , 34:05.533 --> 34:08.719 interoperability has something to do 34:08.729 --> 34:11.830 with , you know , having the same type 34:11.840 --> 34:13.840 of equipment , but it's a lot to do 34:13.840 --> 34:16.629 with understanding common policies and 34:16.639 --> 34:19.500 procedures and understanding and 34:19.510 --> 34:21.732 trusting the people that you're working 34:21.732 --> 34:24.449 alongside . Now , these forces have not 34:24.459 --> 34:27.120 worked together before based upon the 34:27.129 --> 34:29.610 language barrier based upon a lack of 34:29.620 --> 34:31.739 common procedures , lack of common 34:31.750 --> 34:33.972 equipment , you would expect that there 34:33.972 --> 34:36.870 will be some friction in terms of how 34:36.879 --> 34:39.046 effective they'll be , is , is left to 34:39.046 --> 34:42.310 be seen , um , in terms of whether or 34:42.320 --> 34:45.189 not we'll be able to deliver , you know , 34:45.300 --> 34:47.699 all of the equipment or security 34:47.709 --> 34:50.110 assistance that we're authorized to 34:50.120 --> 34:52.176 deliver before the end of the year , 34:52.229 --> 34:54.285 we're going to keep doing what we've 34:54.285 --> 34:56.396 done from the very beginning and that 34:56.396 --> 34:59.250 is rushing um very much needed security 34:59.260 --> 35:01.689 assistance in Ukraine as fast as we can . 35:02.129 --> 35:04.018 And we're going to focus on those 35:04.018 --> 35:06.185 things that continue to focus on those 35:06.185 --> 35:08.407 things that they need the most . Uh And 35:08.407 --> 35:10.407 uh we'll get uh we'll make as big a 35:10.407 --> 35:12.462 difference as possible with the time 35:12.462 --> 35:14.462 that we have remaining . And uh and 35:14.462 --> 35:16.959 hopefully we'll see continued support , 35:16.969 --> 35:19.191 bipartisan support for Ukraine from our 35:19.191 --> 35:22.959 Congress going forward , right ? Uh 35:23.479 --> 35:24.479 uh 35:50.389 --> 35:54.360 uh Moriyama Takuya 35:54.709 --> 35:56.419 of Kyoto News . 36:20.320 --> 36:23.360 Hi , I know , I know , 36:24.709 --> 36:25.709 I 36:28.870 --> 36:31.810 know , I know , I 36:32.929 --> 36:33.540 know uh 37:23.100 --> 37:23.870 uh what 37:44.550 --> 37:45.550 do uh uh uh uh 37:49.419 --> 37:50.419 uh 38:04.340 --> 38:06.219 no , beside a 38:11.010 --> 38:13.610 bo bo , no such uh 38:15.129 --> 38:16.310 Bo bo architecture , 38:19.129 --> 38:20.689 you know . No , 38:44.459 --> 38:45.459 no 39:10.570 --> 39:12.681 deployment from 2027 . This is on top 39:12.681 --> 39:14.848 of our long standing arrangements with 39:14.848 --> 39:16.848 um communication facilities such as 39:16.848 --> 39:19.409 Pine gap . How central is Australia to 39:19.419 --> 39:22.790 the U S's Indo Pacific war planning um 39:22.800 --> 39:25.133 for the region and for the three of you , 39:25.133 --> 39:27.300 this commitment to consult , how would 39:27.300 --> 39:29.133 it operate , for example , in an 39:29.133 --> 39:32.419 emergency over Taiwan . Well , it's key 39:32.429 --> 39:34.570 that Australia has been an essential 39:34.580 --> 39:36.929 partner to us for many , many years . 39:37.580 --> 39:41.429 You may have heard me say before that I 39:41.489 --> 39:45.139 served 41 years in uniform . Um , 39:45.909 --> 39:47.798 almost six years of that was in a 39:47.798 --> 39:50.899 combat zone . And uh everywhere I went 39:50.909 --> 39:53.530 that was a tough place to be . There 39:53.540 --> 39:56.280 was an Aussie there . And so that 39:56.290 --> 39:59.360 relationship is invaluable . Uh 39:59.370 --> 40:03.120 We , we share the same values . We uh 40:03.600 --> 40:06.889 we treasure each other's 40:07.060 --> 40:10.820 um professionalism . Uh And we've 40:10.830 --> 40:14.300 worked together on and off uh over 40:14.310 --> 40:17.020 decades and we expect that that work 40:17.030 --> 40:19.141 will continue going into the future . 40:19.141 --> 40:21.308 We share a common vision of a free and 40:21.308 --> 40:23.810 open Indo Pacific and that's uh that's 40:23.820 --> 40:25.987 really important to us , but it's also 40:25.987 --> 40:28.042 important to all of our , all of our 40:28.042 --> 40:29.987 partners and allies uh in , in the 40:29.987 --> 40:32.209 region . And we're going to continue to 40:32.209 --> 40:34.429 work together to promote that uh uh 40:34.439 --> 40:37.050 that common interest . So Australia is 40:37.060 --> 40:39.282 a valuable partner today . It will be a 40:39.282 --> 40:42.129 valuable partner or ally uh uh going 40:42.139 --> 40:44.139 forward . And it has been over the 40:44.149 --> 40:46.399 years , over the decades , uh a , a 40:46.409 --> 40:49.780 really reliable and uh an 40:49.790 --> 40:53.300 effective uh ally uh that uh that's 40:53.310 --> 40:55.477 just been remarkable in my view . So , 40:55.989 --> 40:58.899 uh thanks mo uh the , the commitment to 40:58.909 --> 41:00.879 consult uh in respect of regional 41:00.889 --> 41:03.969 defense issues is just that um a and 41:04.290 --> 41:07.250 this is across the , the , the spectrum 41:07.260 --> 41:09.629 of , of those issues um it , it , it 41:09.639 --> 41:12.959 could be an H AD R um event , um uh a 41:12.969 --> 41:16.060 cyclone , an earthquake , a tsunami um 41:16.070 --> 41:18.292 where defence forces need to coordinate 41:18.292 --> 41:20.729 in terms of providing assistance . Uh 41:20.739 --> 41:24.189 It could be um in , in relation to the , 41:24.199 --> 41:26.366 the , the kind of work that we've done 41:26.366 --> 41:28.310 in terms of um ensuring that we're 41:28.310 --> 41:30.477 bringing stability to countries in our 41:30.477 --> 41:32.532 region such as what occurred with uh 41:32.532 --> 41:34.699 Solon Islands um back in the early two 41:34.699 --> 41:37.764 thousands or um the regional mission 41:37.774 --> 41:40.814 that we led in uh Timor Leste . Um what 41:40.824 --> 41:42.824 this is is that no matter what that 41:42.824 --> 41:45.754 circumstance is um that the three of us 41:45.764 --> 41:48.270 will consult each other . Um And the 41:48.280 --> 41:50.391 significance of the announcement that 41:50.391 --> 41:52.149 we are making today is it puts 41:52.159 --> 41:55.129 substance and structure um into this 41:55.139 --> 41:57.189 relationship . It really is a step 41:57.199 --> 42:00.149 forward um in terms of the way in which 42:00.159 --> 42:02.679 the three of us will operate uh in a 42:02.689 --> 42:05.139 collective and coordinative way . Uh 42:05.239 --> 42:07.469 and the way to read this , I is to be 42:07.479 --> 42:09.368 thinking about it in terms of the 42:09.368 --> 42:11.257 ambition that the three of us are 42:11.257 --> 42:13.590 bringing to the table for this grouping . 42:13.590 --> 42:17.040 Um You know , we do see uh as countries 42:17.050 --> 42:19.199 with shared values , with capability 42:19.209 --> 42:21.429 and with a commitment to uh the the 42:21.439 --> 42:24.520 rules based order within our region um 42:24.530 --> 42:27.709 that there is enormous benefit to each 42:27.719 --> 42:29.608 of us uh in terms of our national 42:29.608 --> 42:31.663 interests , that there's an enormous 42:31.663 --> 42:33.886 strategic benefit um in us working more 42:33.886 --> 42:35.941 closely together and that's what the 42:35.941 --> 42:37.886 commitment to consult means . Ok . 42:40.199 --> 42:42.899 Uh Brandy from defense S hi , thank you 42:42.909 --> 42:44.687 for doing this . Um Are you all 42:44.687 --> 42:47.010 exploring new commitments for basing us 42:47.020 --> 42:49.879 hypersonic weapons in Australia or 42:49.889 --> 42:51.722 Japan ? Down the line ? Are your 42:51.722 --> 42:53.889 governments open to that and broadly ? 42:53.889 --> 42:56.340 Can you speak to any new or concrete 42:56.350 --> 42:58.659 examples of how this agreement will 42:58.669 --> 43:00.969 enable your nations to deter China in 43:00.979 --> 43:03.146 ways you haven't been able to before . 43:05.310 --> 43:07.588 Do you want me to ? Uh Well , look , I , 43:07.588 --> 43:10.300 in terms of um I , I wouldn't go into 43:10.310 --> 43:13.120 uh specifics um in , in respect of 43:13.129 --> 43:15.159 capabilities beyond what we've um 43:15.169 --> 43:17.790 announced . Um The , the , 43:18.909 --> 43:21.020 this is about the three of us working 43:21.020 --> 43:23.330 together . Um It , it , it's , it's not 43:23.340 --> 43:25.909 about other countries um or , or any 43:25.919 --> 43:28.086 other particular country , it is about 43:28.086 --> 43:30.252 the three of us as countries which are 43:30.252 --> 43:32.308 democracies , which are committed to 43:32.308 --> 43:34.419 the rules based order working closely 43:34.419 --> 43:36.530 together to assert that . Um And in 43:36.540 --> 43:38.707 just as I said , in answer to the last 43:38.707 --> 43:40.873 question , um what you can read out of 43:40.873 --> 43:43.520 today's meeting um is uh an ambition 43:43.530 --> 43:46.010 that the three of us share to uh build 43:46.020 --> 43:48.689 the way in which we work together . Um 43:48.989 --> 43:50.767 And , you know , we've had deep 43:50.767 --> 43:52.878 relationships up until now . I mean , 43:52.878 --> 43:56.610 we uh uh uh said earlier that the uh 43:56.860 --> 43:59.360 our , our , the , the country with whom 43:59.449 --> 44:01.750 uh we probably share the most strategic 44:01.760 --> 44:03.760 alignment in terms of the landscape 44:03.760 --> 44:06.449 that we face would would be Japan . Um 44:06.459 --> 44:08.626 part of that landscape is that both of 44:08.626 --> 44:10.848 us are allies of America . And for both 44:10.848 --> 44:12.959 of us , our most important partner is 44:12.959 --> 44:15.060 America . Um That means that there , 44:15.070 --> 44:17.899 there actually has been um a real uh 44:17.909 --> 44:21.729 um history and um record 44:21.739 --> 44:23.906 of us working closely together . But , 44:24.139 --> 44:27.419 but what we are announcing today 44:27.600 --> 44:30.540 um gives expression to the fact that as 44:30.550 --> 44:32.550 three countries , we now seek to do 44:32.550 --> 44:34.383 this in a more and increasing co 44:34.389 --> 44:37.560 ordinated way . Um And that will be a 44:37.570 --> 44:40.500 benefit to our capability . Um We 44:40.510 --> 44:42.510 believe it will be a benefit to the 44:42.510 --> 44:44.843 collective security of the Indo Pacific . 44:44.843 --> 44:46.677 Um And we believe it will make a 44:46.677 --> 44:48.843 significant contribution to the global 44:48.843 --> 44:51.739 rules based order . Uh And um I 44:51.750 --> 44:54.090 certainly agree with uh what the Deputy 44:54.100 --> 44:56.322 Prime Minister has said , we , we don't 44:56.322 --> 44:58.239 have any announcements on uh on 44:58.250 --> 45:01.969 hypersonics uh to offer today . Uh I 45:01.979 --> 45:04.090 would point to the things that we are 45:04.090 --> 45:07.810 working on both as a part of um Aus and 45:07.820 --> 45:11.510 also um as on a bilateral 45:11.520 --> 45:13.750 basis . Uh you know that we're doing a 45:13.760 --> 45:15.489 number of things to de develop 45:15.500 --> 45:17.556 capability with , with Australia and 45:17.556 --> 45:20.780 also with Japan uh bilaterally . Uh we 45:20.790 --> 45:23.080 are in in August pillar two . What that 45:23.090 --> 45:25.590 is all about is working together to 45:25.600 --> 45:27.600 leverage technology to provide real 45:27.600 --> 45:29.689 capability to the war fighter as 45:29.699 --> 45:33.370 quickly as we possibly can . And uh and 45:33.379 --> 45:35.490 we're making progress in in that area 45:35.560 --> 45:38.060 and we expect that Japan will join uh 45:38.290 --> 45:40.590 AUS pillar two at some point in the not 45:40.600 --> 45:42.659 too distant future uh to work on 45:42.669 --> 45:44.899 specific projects that uh that have yet 45:44.909 --> 45:48.030 to be named . Uh But uh but again , uh 45:48.040 --> 45:50.840 there are just so many things that , 45:51.120 --> 45:54.110 that we can work together on and are 45:54.120 --> 45:56.287 working to be together on whether it's 45:56.287 --> 45:58.590 uh you know , quantum capability , 45:58.600 --> 46:02.439 whether it's um you know , uh CC 46:02.449 --> 46:05.620 A or uh you know what you would 46:05.629 --> 46:09.290 describe as uh uh man uh unmanned 46:09.300 --> 46:12.709 teeming uh uh aircraft . Uh and , and 46:12.719 --> 46:14.663 just a number of other things that 46:14.663 --> 46:16.775 include long range strike and , and , 46:16.775 --> 46:18.886 and , and so many other things that , 46:18.886 --> 46:22.120 that uh that I believe we're gonna uh 46:22.280 --> 46:24.540 our work is gonna gonna pay significant 46:24.550 --> 46:26.717 dividends to the warfighter here going 46:26.717 --> 46:29.439 forward . I I know . 46:32.399 --> 46:34.810 No , I know . No , Koki . 46:36.600 --> 46:37.600 Uh 46:46.020 --> 46:47.020 no , no 46:52.620 --> 46:53.620 uh 47:18.250 --> 47:19.250 architecture . 47:27.030 --> 47:28.030 Uh 47:32.300 --> 47:33.300 No , I know . 47:40.479 --> 47:41.479 No , 48:02.479 --> 48:06.439 no , thanks . Uh 48:06.449 --> 48:10.020 And finally , uh Tamura Naohiro of 48:10.260 --> 48:13.810 Yomiuri Shimbun . I I asked a question 48:13.820 --> 48:16.770 for you in this . 48:18.590 --> 48:19.590 Yeah . 48:47.030 --> 48:50.050 Uh at , at the beginning of this year , 48:50.060 --> 48:53.179 in response to uh a surface fleet 48:53.189 --> 48:55.022 review , we announced the future 48:55.022 --> 48:57.699 structure of our navy , surface fleet . 48:57.919 --> 49:00.141 Uh And that as part of that there would 49:00.141 --> 49:02.750 be a , a general purpose frigate . Um 49:02.760 --> 49:06.000 And we wanted to bring a new general 49:06.010 --> 49:08.750 purpose frigate into as soon as 49:08.760 --> 49:10.927 possible within this decade , which is 49:10.927 --> 49:12.927 a very fast acquisition . So uh the 49:12.927 --> 49:15.093 first point in answer to your question 49:15.093 --> 49:17.316 is that what we are seeking in terms of 49:17.316 --> 49:19.538 acquiring a , a general purpose frigate 49:19.538 --> 49:21.989 is to have a very uh speedy acquisition 49:22.280 --> 49:24.969 because of that , what we did was name 49:24.979 --> 49:26.868 at that point , uh A number of uh 49:26.868 --> 49:29.820 companies with a number of designs of 49:29.830 --> 49:32.979 ships that were currently in service uh 49:32.989 --> 49:35.270 with the prospect of them being 49:35.280 --> 49:37.429 initially built overseas . And then 49:37.439 --> 49:39.161 that bill being transferred to 49:39.161 --> 49:41.328 Australia as a means by which we would 49:41.328 --> 49:43.580 be able to acquire an existing 49:43.590 --> 49:45.969 capability in the world quickly . Um As 49:45.979 --> 49:49.290 you say , we have down selected now um 49:49.300 --> 49:53.219 to two companies um in who are 49:53.229 --> 49:56.000 providing three designs amongst those 49:56.010 --> 49:58.570 two . But one of those um is uh 49:58.580 --> 50:00.636 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , Megami 50:00.636 --> 50:03.219 class frigate which is operated w which 50:03.229 --> 50:05.550 is in service now . Um It's , it's a 50:05.560 --> 50:09.120 very capable uh platform . Um and we 50:09.129 --> 50:12.229 will now work uh very closely with um 50:12.550 --> 50:15.290 uh with Mitsubishi heavy industries in 50:15.300 --> 50:18.739 terms of their bid . Um Our intention 50:18.750 --> 50:22.360 is to make a final decision in respect 50:22.370 --> 50:25.169 of this through the course of next year . 50:25.449 --> 50:28.340 Um So this has a , a little time to run 50:28.489 --> 50:30.860 uh but not a lot of time . Uh because 50:30.870 --> 50:33.037 at the heart of what we are seeking to 50:33.037 --> 50:36.610 do uh is to have a new uh you know , 50:36.620 --> 50:38.770 the first of those um general purpose 50:38.780 --> 50:42.070 frigates actually in service um in the , 50:42.080 --> 50:44.229 the , the 20 twenties . But uh we're 50:44.239 --> 50:46.570 obviously very impressed with um uh the 50:46.580 --> 50:48.570 Mugabe class frigate . Um And what 50:48.580 --> 50:50.802 Mitsubishi has presented so far . Um We 50:50.802 --> 50:53.024 were pleased to announce that they were 50:53.024 --> 50:55.191 part of the down selection and we will 50:55.191 --> 50:57.413 be working closely with them . Uh Going 50:57.413 --> 50:59.747 forward . I think that brings to an end . 50:59.747 --> 51:01.858 Um The press conference . Can I again 51:01.858 --> 51:04.080 thank Lloyd and again for being here uh 51:04.080 --> 51:06.330 today . Thank you all for attending . 51:06.489 --> 51:09.199 Um We , we very much appreciate it .