(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
This morning, I paid a courtesy call on President Guelleh and held a meeting with Acting Minister of Defense Hassan. I visited Djibouti for the first time in February 2009, before the Self-Defense Forces’ (SDF) counter-piracy unit was dispatched following the enactment of the Counter-Piracy Measures Act. At the time, the Diet was deliberating on the legislation, and House of Representatives member SATO Shigeki from the Komeito party and I served as the chief directors during the deliberations. I also visited Djibouti as Minister of Defense in 2016, and this is my fourth time visiting the country. The only overseas facility of the SDF is here in Djibouti. The facility in Djibouti has taken on increasing importance as a base of the SDF’s counter-piracy activities, information gathering activities in the Middle East, and transfer of Japanese nationals and others overseas. I expressed my appreciation to President Guelleh and Acting Minister of Defense Hassan toward the Djibouti government’s longstanding support, including provision of land for the facility. In addition, with Acting Minister of Defense Hassan, we exchanged views on regional situations. I conveyed the intention of Japan to contribute to the peace and stability of the region, including counter-piracy measures in offshore Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, which is an extremely important sea-lane connecting Europe and Asia. Furthermore, regarding bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges, we concurred that Japan would initiate a new capacity building program this year for the training of the military band, in addition to the existing program for the improvement of the disaster relief capabilities of the Djibouti Armed Forces. Yesterday, I also met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Omar, and again with President Dileita of the National Assembly whom I met at the Ministry of Defense when he visited Japan this June, and we held meetings. Foreign Minister Omar got on a plane to Japan following our meeting yesterday and is currently attending the TICAD conference. This afternoon, I visited the SDF facility and observed the Deployment Air Force for Counter Piracy Enforcement (DAPE) and the Deployment Support Group for Counter Piracy Enforcement (DGPE). I saw firsthand that they execute their duties with high morale under harsh conditions, which made me very reassured and proud. It was an extremely invaluable opportunity to listen to the voices of the personnel. It was an invaluable experience to watch personnel performing their work with utmost dedication despite the intense heat, including aircraft maintenance, information gathering on the surrounding area, and security operations. Japan’s National Defense Strategy states that Japan will strengthen cooperation with Djibouti and ensure the long-term and stable use of the SDF facility in order to reinforce our operational base in the region, for activities including counter-piracy and rescue and transportation of Japanese nationals and others overseas. In 2023, the Cabinet approved to assign a new mission to counter-piracy units in order to establish temporary arrangements for the possible rescue and transportation of Japanese nationals and others overseas. As these developments reveal, the counter-piracy units at the facility are further gaining in importance. Today, I also heard opinions from personnel, including Colonel Tanaka, Commander of the DGPE, and Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto, Commander of the DAPE, and saw the areas of the facility where improvements and renovations are currently being made. The facility has aged significantly, and it is now undergoing repairs. In some parts of the facility, the repair work has been completed, and there are now barracks equipped with heating and air conditioning. As Minister of Defense, I intend to ensure that improvements are made to the treatment of personnel, including their living environment so that they can maintain high morale and devote themselves to their duties here in Djibouti, a distant land from Japan. In conclusion, for Japan, Djibouti is an extremely important partner for realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP). Fostering trust between the two countries is vital for the stable operation of the SDF facility and the effective implementation of SDF activities. Djibouti is located at the intersection, exactly at the midway point connecting Europe, Asia, and Japan. It is vital to foster trust between Japan and Djibouti for realizing the FOIP vision, which is a diplomatic and security strategy of Japan. I will continue working to strengthen relations between the defense authorities of our two countries, such as high-level exchanges including my own.