日豪円滑化協定、６日署名　両首脳がテレビ会談へ

　岸田文雄首相は６日、オーストラリアのモリソン首相とテレビ会議方式で会談する。会談の際、両政府は自衛隊と豪州軍の相手国訪問時の法的地位を定めた円滑化協定に署名する見通しだ。両政府が５日発表した。
　日本と他国の間には在日米軍の法的地位を定めた日米地位協定があるが、自衛隊と相手国軍の双方に適用される円滑化協定の締結は初めて。政府が米国に次ぐ「準同盟国」と位置付ける豪州との安全保障協力の強化につながりそうだ。
　松野博一官房長官は５日の記者会見で「豪州は日米豪印などの枠組みで連携を進める特別な戦略的パートナーだ。『自由で開かれたインド太平洋』の実現に向け連携を深めていく」と語った。
　豪政府は声明で「両国の防衛・安保協力の新たな一章の幕開けとなる」と強調した。（2022/01/05-12:35）

The Japanese and Australian governments said Wednesday they will sign on Thursday an agreement stipulating the legal status of Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel and Australian troops while in each other's territories.
   The Reciprocal Access Agreement will be signed during a videoconference between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison.
   The agreement, which applies to both the SDF and a foreign country's military, will be the first of its kind for Japan.
   It is expected to strengthen security cooperation between Japan and Australia, regarded by the Japanese government as a quasi-ally behind the key ally of the United States.
   "Australia is a special strategic partner promoting coordination mainly under the framework" of the Oceanian country, Japan, the United States and India, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference on Wednesday."We'll deepen collaboration to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region," he also said.