The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a joint production facility in Japan for advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, as the two allies move to strengthen their military cooperation amid growing security concerns across the Asia-Pacific region.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the agreement on Wednesday following a meeting with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of an annual gathering of Southeast Asian defence ministers and their counterparts from major Asian and Western countries in Cebu, the Philippines.

Koizumi said the missiles would be manufactured under a joint initiative called “Operation Supercharge” and were essential for Japan's fleet of US-made F-35 fighter jets. He did not disclose further details about the facility, production capacity or implementation timeline.

The agreement reflects efforts by Washington and Tokyo to strengthen their military capabilities and improve interoperability as tensions persist over China's growing military presence and territorial claims in the region.

During his meeting with Hegseth, Koizumi said the two sides had “shared a sense of crisis” over the increasingly challenging regional security environment.

He added that they had agreed to reinforce the Japan-US alliance's deterrence and response capabilities with greater speed and intensity.

“We reaffirmed the importance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law, which rejects any attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo through the use of force, coercion or other means,” Koizumi said.

He stressed that their discussions were not directed at any particular country.

Hegseth also reaffirmed the Trump administration's commitment to working with regional partners to deter potential aggression.

Addressing ASEAN defence ministers at a separate meeting on Wednesday, the US defence secretary described Washington's approach as “strong, quiet and clear,” saying the United States wanted sufficient military strength to discourage coercion and aggression without provoking unnecessary escalation.

He said Washington intended to ensure that its allies, partners and potential adversaries understood its position and its willingness to defend its interests.

The US-Japan missile production agreement comes as both governments seek to strengthen their defence industrial cooperation and ensure more reliable access to advanced weapons systems.

Joint production could help Japan sustain its fighter aircraft capabilities while contributing to broader allied efforts to improve military readiness across the region.

The agreement also underscores the growing importance of defence manufacturing partnerships as Washington and its allies respond to an increasingly complex security environment in the Indo-Pacific. (ILKHA)