Japan’s steps to exporting Mogami frigates to Australia

The sale of Japan’s next-generation, general-purpose Mogami frigates to Australia is a significant new security step for Japan in a number of respects. It exemplifies the substantial technological capabilities of Japan’s defence industry as well as the realisation of longstanding government efforts to relax arms export restrictions to partner countries, culminating in the lifting of the ban on exporting lethal weapons under the Sanae Takaichi administration. The contract between the two countries will facilitate Japan’s largest military export deal in its postwar history and represent a major breakthrough for its defence industry, which is expanding in response to greater demand as Japan’s security environment becomes more challenging. The Mogami deal between Japan and Australia is emblematic of the two countries’ ‘special strategic partnership’, which is strong, broad-ranging and now encompasses Japanese cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy and across the defence-industrial bases of the two countries. The Mogami deal is emblematic of Japan’s deepening defence ties, security partnerships and closer security cooperation with countries such as Australia. Japan is ‘biting the bullet’ by augmenting its defence capabilities and forming a wealth of new and expanding security relations with other countries.