North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

On April 5, commencing at 10:50 a.m. (local time; April 5, 5:50 p.m. JST) for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Belgium, attended a meeting between Representatives of the four Asia-Pacific partners (AP4) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), namely Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg. In addition to NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, Mr. David Dutton, Chargé d'Affaires, Australian Mission to NATO, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand and Mr. LEE Dohoon, 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea attended the meeting.

NATO and the representatives of the four countries exchanged views on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and regional situation in East Asia including North Korea prior to the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting. NATO and the representatives of the four countries agreed that in addition to cooperation between each country and NATO, AP4 will also strengthen cooperation with NATO. The four countries also explained that since last year's AP4 Summit, the four countries have held a series of dialogues and are strengthening their unity. NATO and the representatives of the four countries agreed to continue to communicate closely with each other.