Ex-PM Kishida Urges NATO to Invite Japan to July Summit
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with ambassadors from 30 NATO member states in Tokyo on Thursday, urging the alliance to invite current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to its upcoming summit in Turkey this July. Emphasizing the growing importance of strategic cooperation with reliable partners, Kishida highlighted the interconnected security challenges facing both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. The meeting followed Japan's historic participation in the 2022 NATO summit and subsequent agreements to enhance collaboration in areas such as maritime security, cyberspace, and countering disinformation. During separate talks with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Norwegian representative Anita Nergaard underscored the link between regional conflicts, including Russia's war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, and global stability. She affirmed NATO's commitment to deepening partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations like Japan and South Korea, particularly in defense innovation and space security. This diplomatic engagement reflects Japan's ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with Western alliances amidst rising geopolitical tensions involving North Korea's support for Russia and disruptions to global oil supplies.
Wire timeline
Ex-PM Kishida Urges NATO to Invite Japan to July Summit
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with ambassadors from 30 NATO member states in Tokyo on Thursday, urging the alliance to invite current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to its upcoming summit in Turkey this July. Emphasizing the growing importance of strategic cooperation with reliable partners, Kishida highlighted the interconnected security challenges facing both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. The meeting followed Japan's historic participation in the 2022 NATO summit and subsequent agreements to enhance collaboration in areas such as maritime security, cyberspace, and countering disinformation. During separate talks with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Norwegian representative Anita Nergaard underscored the link between regional conflicts, including Russia's war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, and global stability. She affirmed NATO's commitment to deepening partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations like Japan and South Korea, particularly in defense innovation and space security. This diplomatic engagement reflects Japan's ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with Western alliances amidst rising geopolitical tensions involving North Korea's support for Russia and disruptions to global oil supplies.
The Mainichi