Australia will likely face ongoing pressure to increase defence spending during talks with the Trump administration, as the US pushes its allies to contribute more to military deterrence.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are travelling to Washington DC on Monday to meet their US counterparts Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio for annual high-level talks.
The trip comes days after the Pentagon last week handed down its five-month review into its nuclear-submarine deal with Australia under the AUKUS security pact.
The report has not been made public.
The $368 billion deal was endorsed by the review which recommended changes to put it on its "strongest possible footing".
United States Studies Centre chief executive Michael Green said the "live issue" of American allies lifting defence budgets to burden share remained.
"Increased defence spending is a bipartisan issue for the US. It's not going away as a theme," he told AAP.
Polling of the US public showed they wanted allies relying on the US for security to pay and do more, Professor Green said.
There was not as much drama as people had anticipated with the second Trump administration which was toning down its rhetoric with China, he said.
The two-way talks would likely result in Australia raising Washington's "underdone" approach to the Indo-Pacific region which included a collapse in development assistance, Prof Green said.
Mr Marles, who stopped in Tokyo on Sunday, announced the establishment of a yearly defence meeting between Australia and Japan.
"It will involve meeting with our departments of our defence forces and representatives from our intelligence committees," he told reporters in Japan.
"Japan is our trusted and indispensable partner, and this is about deepening the defence relationship, which is very significant."
Mr Marles said talks would involve how both nations' defence establishments could work together across areas including cyber and space to uphold a "free and open Indo Pacific domain".
The defence minister and Senator Wong spruiked the strength of the alliance between Australia and the US, describing it as "fundamental to our national security".
"AUSMIN is an invaluable forum to set the strategic direction for the alliance, including on defence and security," Mr Marles said.
Senator Wong said the US was Australia's "principal ally and strategic partner".
US Congressman Joe Courtney, who co-chairs the Friends of Australia Caucus, said in response to the review it "correctly determined that there are critical deadlines that all three countries have to meet".
This year's AUSMIN meeting will mark 40 years of consultations between Australian and American defence and foreign affairs ministers.
