Overview
- Giorgia Meloni met Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, becoming the first European leader to visit since Takaichi took office as the two countries marked 160 years of relations.
- The joint declaration confirms closer security and defense collaboration, including work on a sixth‑generation fighter through the Global Combat Air Programme with the United Kingdom.
- Economic‑security measures target supply‑chain resilience, protection of strategic technologies and critical minerals, and cooperation in AI, robotics, semiconductors and biofabrication.
- Space cooperation will expand via regular consultations between Italy’s ASI and Japan’s JAXA, alongside joint efforts on the energy transition, gas security and infrastructure.
- The leaders aligned on an open Indo‑Pacific, addressed Ukraine and Middle East stability, noted concerns about North Korea’s programs, and highlighted public diplomacy with an anime‑style image, birthday greetings and Italy’s participation in GREEN×EXPO 2027.