(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
August 31, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
On August 31, commencing at 15:00 for approximately 50 minutes, Minister KOIZUMI held a Defense Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo with H.E. Mr. Theo FRANCKEN, Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Belgium.
- At the outset, Minister Koizumi extended his congratulations on the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship and on the appointment of Belgium's first Defense Attaché to Japan, while welcoming the first visit to Japan by a Belgian Minister of Defence. The two Ministers also shared the view that the meeting provided an important opportunity to further advance Japan-Belgium defense cooperation.
- The two Ministers exchanged views on Japan-Belgium defense cooperation and exchanges. Recognizing that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, they concurred on continuing to work closely together and further deepening defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.
- The two Ministers also shared their views on regional security issues and reaffirmed their opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They further confirmed that they would work together to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.