NATO and Japan Deepen Defense Ties as China’s Military Expansion Escalates

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledge closer cooperation on advanced technologies, joint military exercises, and regional security threats.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to strengthen defense industrial cooperation, focusing on dual-use technologies, drones, artificial intelligence, and cyber defense.
Rutte emphasized the need for NATO and Japan to counter China’s rapid military buildup, which he described as ‘staggering,’ and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine through dual-use exports.
Japan expressed interest in joining NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command, signaling a potential shift toward greater involvement in collective defense operations.
Both leaders condemned the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including North Korean missile contributions and troop deployments in support of Russia’s war efforts.
NATO and Japan reaffirmed the inseparability of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security, with plans to enhance joint military exercises, maritime security, and strategic communications.

The Sydney Morning Herald