(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
September 3, 2024
Ministry of Defense Japan
On September 3, commencing at 13:55 for approximately 65 minutes, Minister KIHARA held a Defense Ministerial Meeting with H.E. Mr. Bjørn Arild GRAM, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway.
- At the outset, Minster Kihara welcomed Minister Gram’s first visit to Tokyo. Minister Gram conveyed his appreciation to Minister Kihara for hosting the visit.
- Minister Kihara welcomed the deployment of Norwegian Navy frigate to the Indo-Pacific region for the first time next year as a part of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), and the signing today of MOU on defense equipment and technology cooperation. Minister Gram expressed the importance Norway attaches to the Indo-Pacific region and his pleasure at the progress made in defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Norway.
- The two ministers exchanged views on the regional security situation and the defense policies. Minister Kihara expressed strong concerns over China’s intensifying military activities around Japan, and in particular, towards the recent intrusion of Japanese territorial airspace. The two ministers shared the view to further strengthen cooperation against unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Minister Gram explained the new long-term defense policy announced this year and Norway's support for Ukraine agaist Russia's aggression.
- The two ministers also exchanged views on bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges. They discussed defense equipment and technology cooperation, space-related cooperation, supports to Ukraine, and cooperation through the Nordic countries and NATO.
- The Ministers concurred to work more closely together towards further deepening Japan-Norway defense cooperation and exchanges.
