Japan-NATO agree to strengthen defense industry cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mark Rutte. (Photo: Kyodo)

On April 9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mark Rutte agreed to strengthen defense industry cooperation amid many security challenges.

Areas of planned cooperation include the development of advanced technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, including Artificial Intelligence, drones and quantum technology.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr. Rutte at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized: "A stronger NATO will bring great benefits to Japan" and "We welcome NATO's increasing engagement in the Indo- Pacific region." Mr. Ishiba said that cooperation in the defense industry has great potential.

For his part, Mr. Rutte stressed the need for NATO and Japan to strengthen cooperation at a “critical” time for security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.

The NATO Secretary General also appreciated Japan's readiness to participate in NATO's Security Assistance and Training operation for Ukraine.

The two leaders issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law, and opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

The meeting took place within the framework of Mr. Rutte's first visit to Japan as NATO Secretary General./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhat-ban-nato-nhat-tri-tang-cuong-hop-tac-nganh-cong-nghiep-quoc-phong-post1026800.vnp