The defense ministers of the three AUKUS countries this week said they are considering inviting Japan to at least some elements of Pillar II work.
“Recognizing Japan’s strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects,” the ministers said in a joint statement released April 8.
The joint statement was released by Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Grant Shapps, U.K. Secretary of State for Defense, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
AUKUS is a tripartite agreement that primarily aims to help Australia field a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) in Pillar I while Pillar II covers sharing technology in other areas not directly related to the submarines like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber, hypersonic and electronic warfare.
The ministers also said since AUKUS began they have intended to work with others on Pillar II projects and that “over the past two and a half years, we have built a strong, trilateral foundation for delivering advanced military capabilities at speed and scale.”
The countries plan to use principles and models for partner engagement to undertake more consultations this year with prospective partners in areas they can contribute to and benefit from Pillar II projects.
The statement also said when considering collaboration with additional countries they will focus on factors like technological innovation, financing, industrial strengths, ability to adequately protect sensitive data and information, and impact on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our objective remains to further the delivery of advanced military capabilities to our respective defense forces in support of regional stability and security; we are confident that engaging like-minded partners in the work of Pillar II will only strengthen this pursuit,” they continued.
On Monday, Shapps tweeted that Australia is “scoping like-minded nations, including Japan, to join some of our AUKUS pillar two work streams.”
The U.K. Defense Ministry said in a statement that consultations will begin this year on where potential partners, like Japan, can contribute to and benefit from Pillar II work.
However, later on April 8, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted that this means Japan may participate in specific projects rather than becoming an overall Pillar Two partner.
“An AUKUS+ framework for Pillar 2 is a natural progression. It also makes a lot of sense to start with Japan. AUKUS was conceived and designed as a highest common denominator partnership amongst like-mindeds to extend defense tech advantage, thereby aiding stability and balance in the Indo-Pacific. Involving Japan in Pillar 2 projects will complement this,” Morrison said.
A Reuters report said Morrison confirmed there are no plans to add Japan as a full AUKUS member for Pillar 2 work.
“What is proposed is to look at ‘pillar two’ of AUKUS and look at a project-by-project, whether there would be engagement, and Japan is a natural candidate for that to occur. What is not proposed is to expand the membership of AUKUS,” the Prime Minister said in the report.
During a Monday press briefing following the joint statement release, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed the AUKUS countries are considering work with Japan on individual advanced capability projects, in part because of Japan’s bilateral defense partnerships with all three AUKUS nations.