Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Saturday, 30 May formally proposed the possible export of Japan's advanced Mogami-class frigates to New Zealand, raising the prospect of a trilateral naval procurement arrangement spanning Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The proposal came during the first-ever trilateral defence ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

The Trilateral Meeting

Koizumi met his counterparts — New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles — at the annual regional security forum. The three ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deeper defence cooperation, a meeting made possible in part by Tokyo's recent easing of rules governing defence equipment exports, according to Japanese media reports.

'We'll move forward with discussions on a defence equipment transfer agreement with New Zealand,' Koizumi told reporters after the meeting, referring to a framework that would enable Japan to export the frigates to Wellington.

What Koizumi Proposed

'I told them that if New Zealand were to select our vessel, it would not only deepen defence cooperation between Japan and New Zealand but could also improve interoperability and operational compatibility among the three countries,' Koizumi said. He added that the purpose of Japan's defence equipment transfers is to 'strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and prevent new conflicts from breaking out.'

Koizumi also noted his satisfaction at beginning trilateral discussions 'at such an early stage, especially as New Zealand has shown interest in the Mogami-class frigate.'

The Australia Precedent

The pitch to New Zealand builds on an already-signed arrangement with Australia. In April, Japan and Australia confirmed contracts to jointly deliver three of 11 ships for the Royal Australian Navy, all based on an upgraded variant of the Mogami-class frigate. According to Marles, those vessels will be built in Japan and delivered to Australia in December 2029. Japanese officials argue that having all three countries operate similar vessels would significantly improve interoperability and strengthen collective security in the Indo-Pacific.

New Zealand's Options and Timeline

New Zealand is not exclusively considering the Japanese offer. Wellington is also evaluating Britain's Type 31 frigate as a candidate for its naval procurement programme. A final selection decision is reportedly expected by the end of 2027. Penk signalled openness to the trilateral arrangement, saying, 'Anything that New Zealand can do to work alongside these nations, we will firmly take that opportunity,' and describing cooperation among the three nations as 'crucial for the future of this region.'

Strategic Significance

The discussions mark a notable expansion of Japan's defence export ambitions under its revised export rules. This is the first time Tokyo has formally pitched a naval platform to a Pacific partner beyond Australia, and it underscores a broader shift in Indo-Pacific security architecture — one in which Japan is increasingly positioning itself as a defence supplier, not merely a consumer. A New Zealand selection would create a three-nation fleet of compatible warships, deepening allied interoperability at a time of heightened regional tensions.