Singapore – Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday in Singapore, with the two agreeing to coordinate on a number of initiatives to boost the alliance’s military capabilities amid growing concerns over Chinese assertiveness.
Held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in the city state, hours after Hegseth urged Japan to do more for its own security, the defense chiefs discussed ways to deepen defense-industrial cooperation and accelerate joint production of advanced missile systems.
The allies focused heavily on expanding industrial capacity, streamlining acquisition processes and advancing joint development programs aimed at boosting long-term weapons output, according to a Defense Ministry readout.
