TOKYO — On Friday, Japan and the European Union unveiled a new partnership focused on security and defense, aimed at enhancing military cooperation, which includes joint exercises and collaboration within their defense industries. This initiative comes in response to escalating tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia.
This marks the first security agreement the EU has established with a nation in the Indo-Pacific region, as announced by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and EU’s foreign policy head, Josep Borrell, during a press briefing.
“We find ourselves in an increasingly perilous world characterized by rising rivalries, environmental disasters, and potential conflicts,” Borrell stated. He emphasized that partnerships among allies are the key to navigating these challenges. Describing the collaboration as historic and timely, he highlighted its relevance given the current geopolitical climate in both regions.
Borrell is on a tour of East Asia, which also includes meetings in South Korea aimed at reinforcing the EU’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as China and Russia ramp up their military activities. Notably, the discussions coincided with North Korea’s recent test of what is thought to be a new ICBM-class ballistic missile.
Borrell and Iwaya expressed shared concern regarding Russia’s close military cooperation with North Korea, including the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia as well as arms exchanges. In light of these developments, the two underscored their dedication to supporting Ukraine and denounced Russian aggression.
Japan has rapidly been enhancing its military capabilities since adopting a new security strategy in 2022, relying on her alliance with the United States and partnerships with nations such as Australia and the UK. These efforts are aimed at countering an increasingly assertive stance from China.
In an effort to bolster its defense industry and global role, Japan has loosened its previously strict voluntary arms export limitations. The country is also co-developing advanced fighter jets with the UK and Italy.
According to a joint statement from the two nations, they acknowledged the deep interconnection and interdependence between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. They agreed to establish regular working-level dialogues on security and defense and to conduct joint naval exercises involving other nations. Plans for cooperation in cybersecurity and space defense were also outlined.
Additionally, they will explore the possibility of an intelligence-sharing agreement, foster exchanges in defense industry information, and work jointly towards nuclear disarmament objectives.
Iwaya declared that Japan-EU relations are at a historic high and confirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration across various sectors, including security. Earlier that same day, Borrell conferred with Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, during which they acknowledged the interconnectedness of security situations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. They agreed to enhance mutual defense cooperation, as noted by Japan’s Defense Ministry.
The officials raised significant concerns regarding North Korea’s missile development and its burgeoning military ties with Russia, identifying these as prominent threats to global security. “We reaffirmed the importance of strengthened cooperation between the EU and Japan in security and defense domains, especially regarding maritime security and addressing cyber and hybrid threats amidst rising regional and international security complications,” Borrell shared on social media platform X.