Short-term crisis, long-term threats: The Japanese Prime Minister’s 24 hours in Canberra
Sanae Takaichi leaves Canberra with short-term assurances over energy supply. But her visit may have significant implications in a dangerous region.
Standing alongside Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the world has “changed immensely” since the two countries signed a treaty five decades ago.
But there are also strong parallels to the mid-1970s, when an oil shock rocked the global economy and the US’ hard power was under question with its war in Vietnam faltering.
Now, Albanese and Takaichi are dealing with the immediate fallout from the Iran crisis, and the long-term implications of US-China competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan’s first female leader leaves a one-day visit with commitments including critical minerals and defence cooperation as well as, crucially, assurances over energy supply.
