Japan–Australia Sign Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation, Invest in Critical Minerals | WPN World People News

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Australia on the 4th and held a leaders’ summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two sides signed a landmark “Japan–Australia Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation,” strengthening collaboration on critical minerals and formally elevating them to a “core pillar” of the bilateral economic security relationship.

Facing international challenges such as geopolitical tensions, conflicts in the Middle East, and overreliance on supply chains, both countries agreed to deepen strategic cooperation and take action to protect their economies from future shocks and uncertainties. To build more resilient supply chains, they identified six priority projects of high strategic value, targeting key resources needed for semiconductors, electric vehicles, and the aerospace industry. These include the Lynas rare earths project, Alcoa’s gallium recycling project, the Magnium magnesium project, Tivan’s Speewah fluorite project, the RZ Resources' Copi critical minerals project, and Ardea Resources’ Goongarrie Hub nickel project in Kalgoorlie.

The Australian government pledged up to AUD 1.3 billion in financial support for critical minerals projects involving Japanese companies through the Critical Minerals Facility and Export Finance Australia (EFA). On the Japanese side, approximately AUD 370 million has already been invested through the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), with additional funding to follow as projects progress.

Prime Minister Takaichi stated that Japan–Australia relations have reached a “quasi-alliance” level. In addition to economic security, both sides will deepen defense cooperation, including Australia’s introduction of Japan’s Mogami-class multi-role stealth frigate—developed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force—along with technology transfer, and the establishment of a “strategic cybersecurity partnership.” This agreement marks a shift in Japan–Australia relations from traditional resource trade toward deeper economic security cooperation and strategic integration.