TOKYO: Japan- NATO ties received a boost on April 16, as Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu welcomed NATO Permanent Representatives during their visit to Japan.
Minister MOTEGI underscored the vital link between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security, stressing the growing need for unity among allies and the so-called “like-minded” countries. He described the visit as a timely chance to reinforce Japan-NATO collaboration and expressed hope that the Permanent Representatives would gain a deeper appreciation of the complex security challenges facing Japan and the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Foreign Ministry, this was the first visit by NATO representatives to Japan since December 2023 and took place amid a rapidly changing global situation, including events in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The Permanent Representatives acknowledged the growing significance of Japan-NATO cooperation and pledged to advance the partnership through concrete joint initiatives.
Both sides engaged in a thorough dialogue on urgent regional issues, including “Russia’s actions in Ukraine, challenges posed by China in the Indo-Pacific, North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, growing military ties between Russia and North Korea, the abductions issue, and the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran,” the Ministry said.