Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is set to visit Turkey next week to engage in events parallel to the annual NATO summit. This visit underscores the increasing security collaboration between NATO and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Koizumi emphasized the importance of this trip in reaffirming the interconnectedness of security issues in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific areas, aiming to bolster cooperation in upholding a free and open international order grounded in the rule of law.
The summit, which will take place over two days in Ankara, will convene leaders from NATO’s 32 member countries, alongside defense ministers and industry representatives. The agenda will focus on collective security and defense policies. Notably, Koizumi will make history as the first Japanese defense minister to attend both a NATO defense industry forum and a working dinner with defense ministers. In a significant move, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has extended invitations to defense ministers from Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — the alliance’s four Indo-Pacific partners — to participate in these key discussions for the first time.
During his visit, Koizumi is slated to conduct bilateral meetings with defense officials from Turkey, the United Kingdom, and other partner nations. These discussions are expected to further Japan’s defense diplomacy and expand its cooperative efforts with NATO allies.
Japan has been increasingly active in enhancing its security cooperation with NATO, especially in areas such as cybersecurity and maritime security. This expansion comes amid rising global security challenges and the growing interconnection between events in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. By participating in the upcoming summit and related events, Japan aims to solidify its role as a key partner in addressing these complex issues.