(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
March 5, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
On March 5, 2026, from 5:05 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi received a courtesy call from Ms. Radmila SEKERINSKA, NATO Deputy Secretary General, who was visiting Japan.
- At the outset, Minister Koizumi expressed his welcome for Deputy Secretary General Sekerinska on the occasion of her first visit to Japan. Deputy Secretary General Sekerinska, in turn, conveyed her appreciation for the warm reception. As recognition continues to deepen that security in the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable, the two sides confirmed the strategic importance of Japan–NATO cooperation.
- During the meeting, the two exchanged views on regional situations, including the current situation surrounding Iran, as well as on Japan’s defense policy. They also confirmed that cooperation between NATO and Japan is becoming increasingly important, including from the perspective of strengthening mutual deterrence. They exchanged views on cooperation in areas such as cyber, space, improving interoperability, as well as defense industry and equipment cooperation, and welcomed the steady progress of Japan–NATO cooperation across a wide range of fields.
- The two sides agreed to further advance more practical Japan–NATO security and defense cooperation under close communication.