(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
April 17, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
- On April 17, 2026, commencing at 17:05 for approximately 40 minutes, NATO Permanent Representatives and others visiting Japan, paid a visit to the Ministry of Defense.
- At the beginning of the meeting, Minister of Defense KOIZUMI welcomed the delegation and emphasized that, as security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions becomes ever more inseparable, strengthening cooperation between Japan and NATO, NATO and IP4 (its Indo-Pacific partners; Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea), as well as between Japan and individual NATO member states, is more important than ever. Minister KOIZUMI expressed Japan’s commitment to advancing collaboration at all levels, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
- In light of the increasingly severe security environment and the growing interconnection between security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, Vice Minister for International Affairs KANO provided a briefing on Japan’s security environment and security and defense policies.
- Moreover, on April 16th, the NATO delegation visited Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Kamakura Works and received an overview briefing from the company. It contributed to enhancing NATO’s understanding of Japan’s defense industry, further strengthening defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and NATO.
- The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to work closely with NATO, based on the shared recognition that security in the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo‑Pacific regions is inseparable.