Overview
- Prime Ministers Sanae Takaichi and Giorgia Meloni issued the joint statement in Tokyo, formalizing the upgrade from a strategic partnership.
- Both governments committed to strengthening critical‑mineral and broader supply chains to avoid dependence on any single country.
- The agreement reinforces defense interoperability and confirms continued Italian military deployments to the Indo‑Pacific.
- The leaders set up a formal dialogue on space to deepen cooperation on peaceful uses and related collaboration.
- Personal diplomacy featured prominently, with Takaichi marking Meloni’s birthday and Meloni saying, “Count always on me,” as the countries mark 160 years of diplomatic ties.