(Press Release)
June 2, 2026
Japan Ministry of Defense
On June 2, 2026, from 18:05 for approximately 25 minutes, Minister of Defense Koizumi paid a courtesy call on President Whipps of the Republic of Palau in Tokyo. The summary is as follows:
- At the outset, Minister Koizumi expressed his appreciation to President Whipps for the opportunity to meet again, following their meeting in January this year. He also emphasized that Palau is an important partner for Japan, sharing the values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and called for continued cooperation to realize ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’. In response, President Whipps expressed his support and conveyed his appreciation for the support provided by the Government of Japan to Palau.
- Minister Koizumi expressed appreciation for Palau’s participation in the Japan–Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD) and welcomed the steady progress in Japan–Palau defense cooperation. He also referred to initiatives in areas such as maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), reiterating the importance of cooperation with Pacific Island countries. Furthermore, Minister Koizumi and President Whipps concurred on further strengthening Japan–Palau defense cooperation in order to contribute to regional peace and stability.