On May 26, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro held the first trilateral meeting with his counterparts from New Zealand and Australia. During the talks, Koizumi formally proposed the potential export of the Mogami-class destroyer — one of Japan’s most modern warship classes — to New Zealand.
The meeting took place as Japan steps up security cooperation with allied nations in the Indo-Pacific region. The proposal to export the Mogami-class destroyer reflects Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen collective defense capabilities and expand markets for its defense industry.
Japanese media quoted officials saying the Mogami-class destroyer is designed with advanced features such as multi-mission capability, cutting-edge radar systems, and modern weaponry, making it suitable for New Zealand’s maritime security needs.
The trilateral meeting also provided an opportunity for the three nations to discuss regional security issues, including the situation in the South China Sea and defense cooperation within bilateral and multilateral security frameworks.
