North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

April 5, 2024
Japanese

From April 3 to 5, Mr. TSUJI Kiyoto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, Belgium, and held bilateral meetings. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1 State Minister Tsuji attended the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs

State Minister Tsuji participated in the NATO Partner Session
Group photo of the attendee from Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the EU
  1. On April 4th, State Minister Tsuji participated in the NATO Partner Session, which was attended by the foreign ministers from 32 NATO member countries and invited partners (Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the EU). They held discussions on issues of international security environment including Ukraine and East Asia, and cooperation between NATO and its partners.

  2. The outline of the speech by State Minister Tsuji at the meeting is as follows.
    • Japan supports Sweden’s accession to NATO and will continue to further strengthen cooperation with NATO adding Sweden as its new member state.
    • The security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are inseparable, and Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow. We should work together to demonstrate to the international community that we do not tolerate unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
    • Japan hosted the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in February, and strongly demonstrated that Japan would support Ukraine in its reconstruction in cooperation with the public and private sectors. Japan has contributed to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund for the provision of counter-unmanned aircraft detection systems and other equipment. Japan will continue to impose severe sanctions against Russia, as well as to provide strong support for Ukraine.
    • Regarding the situation of Indo-Pacific, we are facing threats such as unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas and advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities. Japan intends to continue its efforts to promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and will work closely with NATO in this context.
    • Japan and NATO are deepening concrete cooperation based on the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP). Japan expects that Euro-Atlantic like-minded countries will enhance their involvement in the Indo-Pacific through engagement of like-minded countries of Euro-Atlantic in Indo-Pacific to be further strengthened such concrete cooperation.

State Minister Tsuji held bilateral meetings on this occasion

State Minister Tsuji shaking hands with Ms. Gentzis

(1) Belgium

  • State Minister Tsuji held a meeting with Ms. Theodora Gentzis, President of the Board of Directors, Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Belgium. They exchanged views on the bilateral relationship between Japan and Belgium and regional situations, and concurred to deepen the cooperation in various areas.

Photo of the meeting

(2) NATO

  • On April 4th, State Minister Tsuji held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Mircea Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary General. Both sides confirmed the necessity of strengthening the Japan-NATO cooperation including response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

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