By Focus and AFP | 2026-03-12

Japan and Canada agreed to expand defense and economic-security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, elevating their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during a summit between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Tokyo.

The leaders discussed security March 6 in Tokyo, where they unveiled a strategic roadmap centered on defense coordination, supply chain security and broader Indo-Pacific cooperation as regional tensions rise.

The partnership reflects a shifting security environment in Asia and growing strategic convergence between the two countries, said Takaichi.

"Mark's visit here under this tough international situation is very meaningful," she said, pledging to "carve out a new chapter in the Japan-Canada relationships."

The summit marked the first bilateral visit to Japan by a Canadian prime minister in a decade and followed an earlier meeting between the two leaders in South Korea last November.

Indo-Pacific security

The Tokyo talks focused heavily on defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. A draft joint statement outlined six priority areas, including stronger defense ties, economic security, trade and investment, energy and food security, Arctic cooperation and expanded people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides agreed to bolster joint exercises between their armed forces, while launching discussions toward a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would simplify troop deployments and training activities.

As part of these burgeoning military ties, the two governments agreed to establish a new cyber policy dialogue and increase cooperation in areas such as space security and defense industry collaboration.

Japan has sought to broaden its network of defense partnerships as it promotes a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," particularly amid rising pressure from China and growing concerns over regional maritime security.

The draft summit statement expressed strong opposition to "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion" in the East and South China seas in language widely interpreted as directed at Beijing.

Like-minded partners

Carney framed the partnership as part of Canada's broader effort to expand its Indo-Pacific presence and cooperation with regional partners.

"We are enhancing our security and defense cooperation through information sharing, technology transfers, cooperation in maritime security," Carney told reporters in a joint appearance with Takaichi.

Ottawa is systematically strengthening ties with like-minded Indo-Pacific partners, Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty said.

"We are systematically reaching out to countries like Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand," he told the Japan Times, noting Canada's aim to expand its regional footprint and contribute to managing growing security tensions.

Canada has gradually stepped up its regional engagement since launching its Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022, including more comprehensive military cooperation, defense consultations and joint exercises with regional partners.

"We are a Pacific nation. We are a maritime nation, and so we're carefully tracking what's going on in the region," McGunity said.

Japan and Canada have increased cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, space security and defense industry collaboration.

Economic security a priority

Economic security is another core component of the new partnership.

The two governments agreed to launch an economic security dialogue later this year aimed at hardening supply chains for critical minerals and energy, sectors increasingly linked to geopolitical competition.

Japan and Canada are both members of the Group of Seven (G7) and cooperate within the G7 critical mineral alliance, which aims to secure reliable supplies of materials essential for advanced technologies and defense industries.

Energy cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Canada is a major producer of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and critical minerals such as copper and nickel, while Japan imports almost all of its energy.

The two governments said they will expand collaboration on energy security as well as clean energy technologies, including nuclear power, hydrogen and other emerging energy systems.