Tokyo: Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas agreed Wednesday to strengthen cooperation against unilateral attempts to alter the regional status quo through force or coercion, Japan's Defense Ministry announced.
According to Kuwait News Agency, during the meeting, both officials emphasized the inseparability of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security and committed to deepening collaboration in security and defense to uphold an international order based on the rule of law. Nakatani also described increased military activity around Japan, including dangerously close flights by Chinese military aircraft near Japanese Self-Defense Force planes, highlighting growing regional tensions.
The two leaders reviewed Japan-EU defense ties, with Nakatani welcoming progress in wide-ranging cooperation including maritime security, the defense industry, and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiatives under the Japan-EU Defense and Security Partnership. Nakatani and Kallas reaffirmed their determination to strengthen security cooperation and committed to working closely together toward deepening defense exchanges and joint efforts.