TRANSCRIPT
During World War Two, Darwin was Australia's battlefront against Japan, and the bombing of Darwin by Japanese fighters in 1942 has been well documented in Darwin's military museum.
But now, the capital city of the Northern Territory is witnessing a new strategic collaboration amid the growing geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific.
In a formal talk with his Japanese and American counterparts, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced Japan will be training alongside Australian and US forces in Darwin, from next year.
"There will be regular deployments of Japan's amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to Australia. And that will have a particular focus on cooperating with the Australian defence force and the United States Marine when they are here as part of Marine rotation."
Mr Marles says Japan's participation will build the ability of the three countries to work together.
He also says the three countries agree to consult each other when it comes to regional security.
"Our three countries are looking at every opportunity that we can find to participate in each other's exercises within the region. And there would be more than a dozen exercises where there is opportunities for us to work more closely together, and we are taking those opportunities. But just one of them is Exercise Puk Puk which is a bilateral exercise between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Next year, in Exercise Puk Puk 25, both Japan and America will participate."
India, which was absent from the talks in Darwin, has agreed to join the maritime collaboration.
The US has been permanently rotating 1500 marines through the garrison city since 2011.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin says with Japan joining the training, they will also gradually increase the scale of other joint exercises that the three countries participate in.
"Starting in 2025, we will increase the complexity of our trio exercises, including (Exercise) Southern Jakaroo, and (Exercise) Talisman Sabre. Looking further out, Talisman Sabre 2027 will include an aerial missile defense live fire event. Taking together, this is major progress, and it will help ensure a more stable and prosperous region."
The trilateral military collaboration is meant to send a message to China, which has increased its maritime activities in the region this year.
But with Donald Trump about to take over the White House, there are also concerns whether the United States will still be committed to the region.
Mr Austin, who works for the outgoing Biden government, says they are aiming for a smooth transition with Mr Trump's administration.
"Beyond that, I would say I'm really proud of the things this administration has accomplished over the last four years, in terms of what we've done in this region, strengthening alliances, and to work with countries that share a vision of a free and open Indo Pacific. And again, our focus will remain on effecting this smooth and orderly transition."
The trio met on Darwin's esplanade that houses a memorial to the 252 deaths of Japan's bombing raids of Darwin.
The Australian War Memorial says the actual number of deaths has never been confirmed - because the crews of some of the merchant ships in Darwin at the time were not fully known.
Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani says there's no other time like now for the three countries to strengthen their ties.
"The current situation is requiring us to maintain the free and open international order amid the crisis in the region. To that end, it is important that our three countries with stability enhance our common capabilities."
SBS News was flown to Darwin for that story courtesy of the Australian Defence Force.
