A first in NATO history
The Japanese government will send a minister to the NATO Defense Ministers meeting for the first time.
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Japan will send a minister to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministers Meeting, to be held in Brussels on October 17-18, for the first time in history, in response to the 'China' threat in the Indo-Pacific.
Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen announced that he would meet with his counterparts from NATO and the G7 next week. Stating that he will embark on a European tour between October 16-21, Nakatani said he aims to 'strengthen relations' with like-minded countries.
Conveying the importance of the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' vision, Nakatani stated, "In today's security environment, the security of Europe and the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable."
During his European visit, Nakatani will also discuss the latest status of the three countries' next-generation fighter jet development project with his British and Italian counterparts.
Defense ministers of NATO countries will meet in Brussels on October 17-18.
Former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who attended the NATO Leaders' Summit in Madrid in June 2022, became the first Japanese Prime Minister to attend the summit.
Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea were also among those invited to the NATO Summit as "partner countries" from the Asia-Pacific region. These countries have also been invited to this year's Defense Ministers Meeting.