(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
September 2, 2026
Ministry of Defense Japan
1. Meeting with Lithuanian Vice Minister of National Defence Aleksa
On 27 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida held a working lunch with Lithuanian Vice Minister of National Defence Aleksa.
At the meeting, they discussed regional affairs as well as bilateral 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 across a wide range of fields.
In addition, after the meeting with Vice Minister Aleksa, he received a briefing from Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence to deepen its understanding of the current regional situation.
2. Visit to Rukla Base
On 27 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida visited Rukla Base which is home to a NATO multinational battlegroup led by the German Armed Forces, and he received a briefing on its role as an important security hub.
(photo by Lithuanian armed forces)
3. Visit to the training area of “Demining Coalition”
On 27 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida observed the training course on humanitarian demining course of “Demining Coalition” supporting for Ukraine at the base in Lithuania and encouraged two JGSDF instructors who are currently dispatched to the course.
(photo by Lithuanian armed forces)
4. Wreath Laying Ceremony at Antakalnis Cemetery
On 27 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida visited Antakalnis Cemetery, located in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where victims of the Lithuanian independence movement and others are buried, and laid a wreath in tribute to the victims.
5. Courtesy call on the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Estonia Pevkur
On 28 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Pevkur, Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Estonia. At the meeting, they discussed regional affairs as well as bilateral 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 across a wide range of fields.
6. Visit to NATO CCDCOE
On 28 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida visited NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), one of the educational and research institutes of NATO established in 2008, and he received an explanation about the center. He also encouraged JMOD personnel dispatched to the center.
7. Visit to the Vessel Traffic Services
On 28 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida visited the Vessel Traffic Services, based on the coast of Estonia's capital city of Tallinn, which controls and monitors vessels passing through the Baltic Sea. He received an explanation about the cross-organizational response to gray-zone situations such as the "Shadow Fleet" in cooperation with related organizations such as the Estonian Navy and Coast Guards.
8. Wreath Laying Ceremony at Freedom Square
On 28 August 2026, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida offered a wreath laying ceremony at “Freedom Square” in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, in tribute to the victims of the War of Independence and others.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yoshida’s visit to Lithuania and Estonia (PDF)