Strengthening ASEAN-Japan Defense Ties Through JASMINE
Japan-ASEAN Defense Forum; US-Japan-South Korea Meeting
Hub Story: Japan-ASEAN Defense Forum
Spoke Story: US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Meeting
Alliance Insights: Key Articles From This Week
Hub Story: Japan-ASEAN Defense Forum
The 14th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum, held on February 11, 2025, centered on advancing defense cooperation under Japan's "JASMINE" initiative, which aligns with both Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Launched in November 2023, JASMINE (Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Initiative for Enhanced Defense Cooperation) is built on four pillars aimed at realizing a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, reflecting the spirit of the "Vientiane Vision 2.0."
The Vientiane Vision on Japanese-ASEAN defense cooperation was updated in 2019, and outlines how Tokyo wants to grow its defense ties in the region. The key elements include:
Heart-to-heart Cooperation: Upholding ASEAN’s principles, valuing people-to-people connections and listening sincerely to partners’ needs
Tailored and Lasting Cooperation: Pursuing sustainable outcomes through well-planned, transparent and ongoing engagement
Equal and Open Cooperation: Pursuing wide-ranging international collaboration that supports ASEAN centrality, unity and resilience
At the Forum, Japan emphasized ASEAN's growing role in regional security, and both sides discussed future projects to further strengthen defense ties, reaffirming their commitment to promoting a rules-based, free, and open Indo-Pacific, and ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. JASMINE is a Japanese initiative to focus defense cooperation with ASEAN.
JASMINE’s Four Pillars:
Japan-ASEAN to Carry Out Efforts to Create a Security Environment that Does Not Allow Any Unilateral Attempts to Change the Status Quo by Force or Coercion
To Continue and Expand the Japan-ASEAN Defense Cooperation
To Pursue Further Friendship and Opportunities between Japan and ASEAN Defense Officials
To Support Defense Cooperation between ASEAN, Japan, and the Pacific Island Countries
Japanese security engagement with Southeast Asia is long, deep, and consistent. JASMINE is a newer initiative meant to capture and augment the cooperation that has been ongoing for years. Japan can already boast several achievements in pursuit of JASMINE:
Japan-ASEAN and Timor-Leste Ship Rider Cooperation Program (June 2024)
Professional Airmanship Program (PAP) (July 2024)
Japan-ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Program (Nov. 2023 and July 2024)
Maritime Cooperation and Connectivity Conference (December 2024)
Japan-ASEAN WPS Cooperation Program (October 2024)
Defense Minister Nakatani joined the ADMM-Plus (Lao PDR 2024)
Japan’s co-chairmanship of the EWG on Maritime Security (2024-2027)
Japan has made substantial strides in Southeast Asia and is widely regarded as a trusted partner. According to the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s annual survey, Japan enjoys the highest levels of trust in the region.
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute: The State of Southeast Asia 2024:
Japan remains the most trusted major power among Southeast Asians (58.9%). The US comes in a distant second (42.4%), outpacing the EU (41.5%) by a narrow margin. Half of the respondents (50.1%) express distrust towards China with 45.5% of them fearing that China could use its economic and military power to threaten their country’s interest and sovereignty.
US engagement in Southeast Asia has historically been insufficient, and Washington should leverage partners like Japan to enhance its credibility in the region. American policy should actively support and contribute to Japanese initiatives that already resonate with ASEAN countries. Collaborating with Japan, along with other key partners like India and Australia, serves as a force multiplier, allowing the US to expand its influence in this vital region without overstretching its limited resources.
Spoke Story: US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Meeting
On February 15, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met in Munich to reaffirm their unshakable trilateral partnership and commitment to security, prosperity, and a free and open Indo-Pacific. They pledged to strengthen defense cooperation, address North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and enhance economic resilience through collaboration on energy, critical technologies, and supply chain security. The leaders also emphasized the importance of democratic values, supporting Taiwan, and reinforcing a fair global economic order while standing united against efforts to destabilize international security.
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers underscored the necessity of enhancing the strength of the Alliances to ensure peace and prosperity, including through robust security cooperation among the three countries.
They reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering defense and deterrence, including by conducting trilateral exercises and strengthening the capabilities of Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. and ROK Armed Forces. The United States reiterated its ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the Republic of Korea, backed by America’s unmatched military strength, including its nuclear capabilities. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen extended deterrence cooperation through the ROK-U.S. and Japan-U.S. Alliances.
It is still too early to determine the future of trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea under new leadership in each country. The current alignment was forged by former leaders Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Yoon Suk Yeol, and while the recent trilateral meeting signals a promising continuation of cooperation, domestic politics in all three countries could challenge its stability. Continued and enhanced collaboration will depend on strong leadership in each nation to uphold and strengthen the trilateral partnership.
Alliance Insights: Key Articles From This Week
Australia:
Japan:
Naval News: Japan launches fourth Hibiki-class auxiliary ocean surveillance ship for the JMSDF
The Japan Times: With eye on contract, Japan to send Mogami-class frigate to Australia for drills
South Korea:
Naval News: ROK Navy takes another step toward blue-water navy
Breaking Defense: Army deploys first Athena-R spy plane to South Korea
Yonhap News Agency: Marine Corps holds live-fire drills on Yellow Sea border islands
Yonhap News Agency: Hanwha Group signs MOU with UAE's weapons evaluation authority
New Zealand:
Naval News: New Zealand Fires Penguin Missile for the First Time
The Diplomat: Cook Islands’ China Shock: A ‘Frog in the Pot’ Moment for Pacific Security
The Philippines: