(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would now like to offer some remarks, including overall reflections on this visit. Overall, I was able to effectively communicate Japan’s defense policy through my participation in the Munich Security Conference. I believe it was also a very significant outcome that I was able to share with defense ministers and other counterparts from various countries the recognition that the security of the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic are inseparable. Turning to today, the second day of the Munich Security Conference, I began with an early morning jog alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles of Australia, which further deepened our friendship. I subsequently held three meetings with defense ministers and other counterparts. Specifically, in my meeting with Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius of Germany, we welcomed the close defense cooperation and exchanges being conducted between Japan and Germany across all services—land, maritime, and air. We also confirmed that we will continue to work closely together to deepen the Japan-Germany defense cooperation and exchanges, including Japan-NATO cooperation and cooperation in defense equipment and technology, and to create a security environment that does not tolerate unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force. Next, in my meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Marles of Australia, we were able to hold substantive discussions built upon the personal relationship of trust we have developed to date. Regarding the upgraded Mogami-class frigate, we confirmed that Japan and Australia will continue to work closely toward the early conclusion of contracts this year. We also confirmed that we will advance bilateral defense cooperation under the Framework for Strategic Defense Coordination (FSDC) established at our previous meeting. Moreover, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia, we also decided to begin concrete coordination for my early visit to Australia. In addition, during my meeting with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, we exchanged views on the increasingly severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic. We also confirmed that we will further promote Japan-EU defense cooperation and exchanges, including in the areas of maritime security and the defense industry, based on the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership. Furthermore, I held brief exchanges of views with the President of Finland; the defense ministers of Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Latvia, Albania, Norway, Romania, and Lithuania; as well as U.S. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. In this way, the number of meetings was very large and the exchanges of views were substantive, and I believe this resulted in fruitful defense diplomacy.