Australia and Japan sign warship deal

The contracts were signed aboard a Japanese warship in Melbourne by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his counterpart Koizumi Shinjirō.

The first of the Japanese-designed vessels is expected to be delivered within three years as part of a broader fleet expansion.

This partnership underscores the growing strategic and security ties between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The deal is seen as a major step in Australia's efforts to modernize its naval capabilities amid rising regional tensions.