(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
April 1st, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
On April 1st, 2026, from 15:45 to 16:25 for approximately 40 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi held a Japan-France Defense Ministerial Meeting with H.E. Catherine Vautrin, Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans of the French Republic. At the outset of the meeting, the two ministers signed the Japan-France Defense “Roadmap.”
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At the outset, Minister Koizumi stated that as situations in various regions have become increasingly interconnected, cooperation with France, Japan’s “special partner,” has become ever more necessary, and emphasized that, from the perspective of strengthening deterrence in the region, it is of critical importance to further enhance cooperation with France. Minister Vautrin expressed views to the same effect.
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They further concurred that, when necessary to ensure the security of both countries and peace and stability in the region, Japan and France would consult with each other and consider appropriate responses, and that they would steadily pursue, during peacetime, the cooperation necessary to this end.
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In addition, the two ministers exchanged views on the current situation surrounding Iran as well as regional security issues, including those in the Indo‑Pacific, and confirmed that they would continue to coordinate closely.
- Based on their shared recognition that security in the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable, the two ministers confirmed that, with a view to strengthening regional deterrence, they would further deepen defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries based on the Japan-France Defense “Roadmap.”