On April 13, DM Kishi, along with FM Motegi, held the first-ever Japan-German 2+2 meeting with H.E. Ms. Kramp-Karrenbauer, Federal Minister of Defense and H.E. Mr. MAAS, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in a form of a video teleconference.
Four Ministers welcomed the first-ever 2+2 meeting conduced in the year of 160 years of friendship between Japan and Germany. They confirmed to coordinate closely towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.
April 13, 2021
Japan-Germany Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (“2+2”)
On April 13, commencing at 2:30 p.m. for approximately one hour and 30 minutes, Mr.KISHI Nobuo, Minister of Defense of Japan, and Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held the first Japan-Germany Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (“2+2”) with H.E. Ms. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Federal Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, and H.E. Mr. Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. General remarks
The four Ministers welcomed the holding of the first 2+2 between Japan and Germany on this milestone year marking the 160th Anniversary of Japan-Germany Friendship. They confirmed their intention to cooperate closely toward the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
2. Japan-Germany security cooperation
- The German side explained about the establishment of the “Policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific region” by the Government of Germany and about the deployment of a German Navy frigate to the Indo-Pacific region. The Japanese side welcomed Germany’s growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific-region.
- The Japanese side raised the possibility of bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the deployment of the German Navy frigate, including joint exercises as well as monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit ship-to-ship transfers by North Korea-related vessels. The four Ministers shared the view to continue to coordinate with each other on this matter.
- The four Ministers welcomed the signing and entry into force of the Japan-Germany Agreement on the Security of Information last month, and shared the view to further promote bilateral security cooperation under this agreement, including cooperation in the area of defense equipment.
3. Regional affairs and cooperation in the international arena
- The four Ministers shared the serious concerns of the international community about unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, and shared the view that it is important to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
- The four Ministers exchanged their views on the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea. In this context, the Japanese side expressed serious concerns about China’s recent actions including the Coast Guard Law, and shared serious concerns about the situation surrounding Hong Kong and the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
- The Japanese side strongly condemned the recent ballistic missile launches by North Koreaand expressed its strong concern over North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile capabilities in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. On that note, the four Ministers reaffirmed that missile launches by North Korea constitute a serious issue for the entire international community, and that it was essential to fully implement UNSC resolutions for achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of North Korea.The four Ministers also shared the view that they will continue to collaborate closely toward the early resolution of the abductions issue.
- The four Ministers exchanged their views regarding matters related to Russia, Iran, and other issues and confirmed that they will work closely.
4. Other
The four Ministers confirmed their intention to hold the next 2+2 at an early date in a face-to-face format.
