豪陸軍の連絡将校、陸自常駐へ　共同訓練も強化―防衛相会談

　河野太郎防衛相は２０日、来日中のオーストラリアのレイノルズ国防相と防衛省で会談した。安全保障協力強化の一環として、訓練計画の調整などを目的に陸上自衛隊に豪陸軍の連絡将校を常駐させることを確認した。
　両氏は会談後に共同声明を発表。豪空軍が主催する多国間訓練「ピッチ・ブラック」に来年初めて航空自衛隊の戦闘機を参加させることや、日本で実施する日豪共同訓練「武士道ガーディアン」を定例化することを明記した。装備品などの共同研究開発のため、防衛装備庁と豪国防省科学技術グループの交流プログラム設立も決めた。（2019/11/20-20:11）

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono and his Australian counterpart, Linda Reynolds, agreed Wednesday that an Australian Army liaison officer will be permanently stationed with Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force as part of efforts to boost defense cooperation between the two countries.
   The ministers announced the agreement in a joint statement they issued after a meeting in Tokyo.
   The two also agreed that fighter planes from Japan's Air SDF will take part in Australia's Pitch Black multilateral joint exercise for the first time next year, as well as regularizing the two countries' Bushido Guardian joint exercise in Japan, according to the statement.
   Kono and Reynolds also agreed to establish an exchange program between Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency and Australia's Defense Science and Technology Group.
   The ministers shared their grave concern at China's naval expansion in the South China Sea and East China Sea. They agreed to continue talks on a pact to facilitate smooth interactions between the SDF and the Australian military during joint operations and exercises.