Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal

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Japan's Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro (2nd L) speaks with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (not pictured) during a Defence Ministers' Meeting astatine the Commonwealth Parliament Offices successful Melbourne connected April 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: AFP

Australia and Japan signed contracts connected Saturday (April 18, 2026), launching their landmark $10 cardinal ($7 billion) woody to proviso Australia ‌with warships, Tokyo’s astir consequential subject sale since ending a ⁠military export prohibition successful 2014.

Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi signed a memorandum “reaffirming the Australian ‌and Japanese governments’ shared committedness to the palmy delivery” of the warships, ‌Mr. Marles said successful a statement.

Published - April 18, 2026 03:21 p.m. IST

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