(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
September 5, 2025
Ministry of Defense Japan
On September 5, 2025, commencing at 15:50 for approximately 30 minutes, Defense Minister NAKATANI received a courtesy call by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo DRAGONE, Chair of Military Committee of NATO.
- At the outset, Defense Minister Nakatani welcomed Admiral Dragone's visit, and Admiral Dragone expressed his appreciation to Minister Nakatani for hosting the meeting. Considering that this was Admiral Dragone’s first visit as Chair of NATO Military Committee, to Indo-Pacific region, Minister Nakatani stated that he is encouraged by the high interest and continued involvement by NATO in the region and Japan.
- Minister Nakatani stated that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are becoming increasingly interconnected under the severe international security environment so that the strategic significance of Japan-NATO cooperation is expanding, to which Admiral Dragone concurred. In addition, Minister Nakatani shared that Japan-NATO cooperation is expanding in various levels in both civilian and military sides, mentioning Minister Nakatani's first participation in the NATO Defense Ministerial Meeting in October last year, Chief of Joint Staff's third participation in the NATO Military Chiefs of Defense Meeting in January this year, and the meeting between NATO Secretary General Rutte and Minister Nakatani in April this year. They confirmed to continue to promote practical security and defense cooperation in various areas between Japan and NATO.
