NATO and Japan Enter New Era of Cooperation Amid Concerns over Russia and China

Japan and NATO have embarked on a new phase in their bilateral relations with the conclusion of an agreement that will see Tokyo enhance cooperation with the world's most powerful military alliance in several additional areas, amidst shared concerns over Russia and China, according to JapanTimes.

The cooperation will extend beyond traditional security realms and encompass cyber, emerging and disruptive technologies, and strategic communications.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made this announcement on Wednesday at the NATO Leaders Summit in Vilnius.

Recently, NATO approved an agreement with Japan called the Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP) with the transatlantic alliance.

In brief remarks made alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Kishida stated that the new agreement is not only a response to an increasingly challenging international security environment but also an acknowledgment that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region are "indivisible."

Stoltenberg, in turn, praised Japan as NATO's closest partner country, expressing gratitude to Tokyo for its support of Ukraine while also expressing concern over China's "significant military build-up" and expansion of its nuclear capabilities.

The NATO Secretary General also condemned North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as violations of UN Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang reportedly launched a probable intercontinental ballistic missile earlier that day, according to Japan.

Three other leaders from the Indo-Pacific region—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol—are also participating in the summit.

The countries, informally known as the Indo-Pacific Quad (IP4), which have been part of NATO's "global partners" group since the early 2010s, are now transitioning to the ITPP to expand and institutionalize cooperation with the Alliance.

Stoltenberg emphasized that events taking place in the Indo-Pacific region are relevant to the Euro-Atlantic area.

"The war in Ukraine has global implications," he said. "Terrorists and cyber threats do not respect borders, and authoritarian regimes are coming closer. Therefore, we must stand together for a rules-based international order."

Japan has a diplomatic mission to NATO and has been engaging with the Alliance for many years, primarily through joint exercises with member states in addition to the United States forces, particularly in the areas of maritime and cybersecurity. The new agreement includes cooperation in space and countering disinformation.