Japanese PM visit puts Australian energy security and rare earths supply back on the strategic table
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Australia has put energy security, rare earths and trusted supply chains back at the centre of the national economic security conversation.
Reuters reports that Australia and Japan have signed new agreements to strengthen cooperation on energy and critical minerals, following Takaichi’s meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The reporting notes that Australia supplies about one-third of Japan’s energy and that Japan is one of Australia’s largest LNG markets, while the leaders also discussed economic security and rare earth supply chains.
The broader context is important. News.com.au reports the visit marks the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which underpins a major bilateral economic relationship. The same reporting says Japan supplies around 8 per cent of Australia’s diesel, while Japan depends heavily on Australian gas imports, making energy security a two-way exposure.
Reuters also reported earlier that Takaichi’s Australia visit was expected to include discussions on rare earths, while Japan looks to reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains. That is strategically relevant for Australia because critical minerals are no longer simply mining exports. They are inputs into defence, clean energy, electronics, advanced manufacturing and allied economic security.
For South Australia, the issue connects to defence industry, critical minerals, energy transition, processing capability and advanced manufacturing. As more countries seek trusted suppliers outside China-linked supply chains, jurisdictions with credible resources, processing pathways and industrial partnerships will be better positioned.
Resilience Lens:
National resilience is increasingly alliance-based. Australia’s energy and critical-minerals position is strongest when domestic assets are backed by trusted trading relationships, regional coordination and downstream industrial capability.
The Japan talks matter because they show resilience being built across diplomacy, LNG, rare earths, defence, fuel and economic security at the same time.
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Sources:
Reuters - Australia and Japan sign agreements on energy and critical minerals:
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/japan-pm-takaichi-set-talks-with-australias-albanese-energy-security-2026-05-04/News.com.au - Anthony Albanese to talk energy security with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/anthony-albanese-to-talk-energy-security-with-japans-prime-minister-sanaetakaichi/news-story/0f507143e6db4f7ff0f2c3158762eee3ABC News - Federal politics live: Japan’s PM touches down in Canberra:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-04/federal-politics-live-blog-sanae-takaichi-/106637392Reuters - Japan PM Takaichi plans Australia visit to discuss rare earths:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-pm-takaichi-plans-australia-visit-discuss-rare-earths-nikkei-reports-2026-04-03/
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