The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) organized a three-day training program on security and foreign policy issues in the Indo-Pacific region for the Australian National University’s National Security College (NSC) between November 18 and 20, 2024. Twenty-five Australian government officials, together with six NSC faculty and staff members, participated in the program with Prof. Rory Medcalf, Head of NSC, as a leader of the delegation. It was the fifth time such a program was organized since the GRIPS and NSC signed a memorandum of understanding in 2017.

Staring from the lecture by Prof. Narushige Michishita (GRIPS Executive Vice President), experts from GRIPS, academia, the Japanese government, and think tanks gave lectures about Japan's national security strategy, domestic political environment, cooperative relationships with like-minded countries in the complex security environment, and other important issues to the delegation. Speakers included: Prof. Yoko Iwama (GRIPS); Mr. Ichiro Kutani (Institute of Energy Economics, Japan); Prof. Naoko Etoh (Gakushuin University); Dr. Atsushi Sunami (Sasakawa Peace Foundation); Ms. Kiyo Kudo (National Police Agency); Prof. Katsuya Tamai (University of Tokyo) (in the order of appearance).

<Orientation by Prof. Narushige Michishita>

In the morning of the second day, the delegation had Q&A and discussion sessions on wide-ranging national security issues with Mr. Akihisa Nagashima (Special Advisor to the Prime Minister; Member, House of Representatives), and Dr. Keitaro Ohno (Member, House of Representatives; Deputy Chairperson, General Council, Liberal Democratic Party) at the First Members' Office Building of the Lower House.?

In the afternoon, the delegation received a briefing and had a Q&A session with Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida (Chief, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defense Force) at the Ministry of Defense and deepened their understanding of Japan's national security policy.?

<Exchange of opinions at the First Building of the House of Representatives>

<Mr. Akihisa Nagashima, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister>

<Mr. Keitaro Ohno, Member, House of Representatives>

<Group Photo with Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida at the Ministry of Defense>

Throughout the program, the delegation asked many practical questions and had lively discussions. We sincerely hope that the friendly relationship between Australia and Japan will continue to deepen through the executive program at our university.

<Closing Ceremony at GRIPS>