While Yoshihide Suga conducted his first overseas trip as prime minister, another important development in Japanese foreign policy took place this week in Tokyo.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Australian counterpart, Linda Reynolds, forged a historic joint statement on advancing defense cooperation between the two democracies — an agreement that carries more significance than perhaps the media will capture.

The reasons are threefold. First, it sends out a strategic message — both to other partners as well as potential adversaries. Second, it’s an indication of evolving expectations in the Japanese and Australian governments. Third, it delivers a road map for officials to guide them toward the initiatives they need to pursue in the near term.