The Japanese government is considering the participation of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the July NATO summit in Lithuania, the Kyodo news agency reported Wednesday, citing a government source.
The issue of full participation in such a meeting is being considered in the context of the general deepening of relations between Japan and the North Atlantic Alliance. Earlier, the Prime Minister of Japan said that Tokyo has no plans to join NATO.
Last June, Mr. Kishida became the first Japanese head of government to attend the NATO summit in Madrid. The Japanese Foreign Ministry then decided to create an independent diplomatic mission to NATO, separating it from its embassy in Brussels and raising the status of the mission.
Any participation by the Japanese leader in the upcoming summit will have value given the tensions in Southeast Asia.
Tokyo has repeatedly announced plans to strengthen ties with NATO amid a deteriorating global security situation. In particular, he mentioned plans to open a liaison office with the alliance in Tokyo. However, as Mr. Kishida said on Wednesday, nothing has been decided yet.
The NATO summit will take place on July 11-12 in Vilnius.
Source: Kyodo, Reuters, TASS
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.