The US, Britain and Australia are considering cooperation with Japan as part of their AUKUS trilateral security pact in the Indo-Pacific.
The countries said in a joint statement on Monday that the aim of the alliance is to strengthen security and military deterrence in the region, where China is also seeking to expand its position of power.
The alliance - the name of which comes from combining the abbreviations for the three countries - has been in place since 2021.
The cooperation with Japan will primarily concern the so-called second pillar of the alliance. This would involve facilitating the exchange of militarily usable technologies.
"Recognizing Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar 2 advanced capability projects," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on Monday.
US President Joe Biden is to receive Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as a state guest in Washington this week. A meeting is planned at the White House on Wednesday.
Until now, the AUKUS Alliance was primarily known for its plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for the Indo-Pacific.
