Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday instructed his Cabinet ministers to take a united approach to security challenges, a day before the launch of the U.S.-style National Security Council.

With its primary focus on diplomacy and defense, the council will likely discuss defense agenda items the Abe administration is scheduled to approve before the end of the month — new defense program guidelines and a more overarching national security strategy.

Abe made the remarks during the final meeting of the Security Council, which was established in 1986. The new council will replace the Security Council.