Japan and New Zealand strengthened their military ties with two agreements to share supplies and classified information to increase interoperability. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins signed the pacts in Tokyo in December 2025.
An acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA) will allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to share food, fuel, ammunition and other provisions and to use each other’s military facilities during exercises. That could include refueling at sea or the reciprocal use of food or medical supplies during joint humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The nations also signed a security agreement to ease the sharing and handling of classified information.
“Our forces already work well together, and this [ACSA] agreement will create the conditions for even more seamless cooperation,” Collins stated.
New Zealand is the 10th country with which Japan has reached an ACSA. The signing ceremony came a day after Japan finalized a similar accord with the Netherlands. In the Indo-Pacific, Japan also has ACSAs with Australia, India, the Philippines and its longtime ally, the United States.
Prior to the signing, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with Collins and shared his “serious concerns” about military provocations by China and Russia, the Nikkei Asia news publication reported.
“We have confirmed that we will pursue opportunities for further cooperation,” Koizumi said about joint training between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the NZDF.
Collins and Motegi also discussed economic security, regional issues and the importance of U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific, Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry stated. They affirmed the importance of further strengthening bilateral security and defense cooperation to promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Collins cited the nations’ increasing engagements, including joint naval patrols in the East China and South China seas, often alongside regional partners, The Japan Times newspaper reported. For instance, a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft took part for the first time in the JMSDF-led Annual-Ex in October 2025. Australia, Canada, France, the Philippines and the U.S. also participated.
Other opportunities could arise from the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience, a U.S.-led multilateral forum to build a stronger and more resilient defense-industrial base, Collins said. Japan and New Zealand are participants.
“Japan is a crucial partner for New Zealand. In these times of increasing international tension, strengthening interoperability with our partners is vital as we work to uphold the international rules-based order and maintain regional security and prosperity,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
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