Japan-Estonia Relations
Japan-Estonia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
February 18, 2023
On February 18, commencing at 10:20 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes (local time; 6:20 a.m. on February 19, Japan time), Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Urmas REINSALU, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, during his visit to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Minister Hayashi stated that it was a pleasure to meet Minister Reinsalu for the first time, who served as President of the Parliamentary League for Friendship with Japan for a long time. Minister Hayashi mentioned that, as Japan assumes the G7 Presidency and serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this year, Japan would like to work in close cooperation with Estonia to contribute to upholding and strengthening the international order based on the rule of law, including addressing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,
- Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Minister Hayashi stated that Japan had been imposing strict sanctions against Russia and providing strong support for Ukraine. He also stated that Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during wartime, could never accept Russia’s threat of nuclear weapons, let alone their use. The two ministers concurred that it is necessary to maintain unity among the likeminded countries.
- Minister Hayashi explained that in light of the increasingly severe security environment, Japan formulated the new National Security Strategy at the end of last year, to which Minister Reinsalu showed his support regarding the matter. The two ministers also discussed the situations of the East and South China Seas, addressing economic security issues including economic coercion, opaque and unfair development finance, addressing North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues such as the missile launched on the same day, as well as the abductions issue, and strengthening the functions of the UN including the Security Council reform. The two ministers concurred on their further cooperation. Minister Reinsalu expressed his support for Japan becoming a permanent member of the Security Council in order to strengthen the function of the UN.
- The two ministers shared the view to further strengthen their cooperation, especially in the area of digital, cyber and others where Estonia has strength. Furthermore, the two ministers shared the view to work together toward a fruitful 4th Japan-Baltic Cooperation Dialogue to be hosted by Japan.