(Press Release)
July 31, 2023
Japan Ministry of Defense
On July 31, 2023, commencing from 15:10 for approximately one hour, Minister Hamada held a meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud, Minister of Defense, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- At the outset of the meeting, Minister Hamada welcomed the visit by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid to Japan. Both Ministers confirmed that bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges have been promoted in the fields of security and defense.
- Minister Hamada introduced the National Defense Strategy and other strategy documents, which were newly formulated last December, and explained that Japan will promote cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other countries, as well as fundamentally reinforce its own defense capabilities. His Royal Highness Prince Khalid explained the regional situation of the Middle East and its defense policy. He also highlighted the transformation program of the Saudi Ministry of Defense and its major initiatives. Both affirmed that they will never allow any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force.
- Both also exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges including defense equipment and technology cooperation, and concurred to continue communicating more closely between defense authorities through Military-to-Military Dialogue and other opportunities, as well as to further strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges including unit-level cooperation.