指揮連携強化へ議論加速　日米防衛相、対面で初会談

　中谷元防衛相は１９日、オースティン米国防長官と訪問先のイタリア・ナポリで初めて対面で会談した。自衛隊と米軍の指揮統制枠組みの連携強化に向け、作業部会を通じて議論を加速させていくことで合意した。
　両氏は日本周辺での中国やロシアの軍事的動向を念頭に「強い危機感」を共有。力や威圧による一方的な現状変更の試みを許してはならないとの認識で一致した。台湾海峡の平和と安定の重要性も改めて確認した。（2024/10/19-23:49）

The Japanese and U.S. defense leaders met in the Italian city of Naples on Saturday to discuss an upgrading of the command and control frameworks of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military.
   Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin face-to-face for the first time, agreeing to accelerate bilateral talks through a working group for stronger cooperation between the frameworks.
   The two officials shared a "strong sense of urgency," bearing in mind the military activities of China and Russia around Japan.
   They agreed not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion or any such attempts. They also affirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
   Nakatani and Austin agreed to further reinforce the capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance to deter and respond, such as the effective operation of counterstrike capabilities and expansion of joint presence in the southwestern Japan region.