4. |
Europe |
Although geographically located on opposite sides of the Eurasian Continent, Japan and Europe share fundamental values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They are partners that jointly play leading roles in fostering the stability and prosperity of the international community. Europe is a region that accounts for approximately 30% of the world’s GDP. It is vitally important for Japan to strengthen its relations with Europe to effectively respond to global issues such as climate change, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as global economic and financial issues. In particular, the United Kingdom and France, which are G8 members and permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as Germany and Italy, also G8 members, have great international political and economic influence, and it is vital for Japan to maintain close relations with these countries for advancing its foreign policy. Japan has built up multifaceted, friendly relations with the countries of Europe, including its traditionally good relations with countries in Northern and Southern Europe and relations with the countries in Eastern Europe as well as Baltic states, which have been aiming at stable economic growth in recent years through entry into the EU and the eurozone.
Although geographically located on opposite sides of the Eurasian Continent, Japan and Europe share fundamental values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They are partners that jointly play leading roles in fostering the stability and prosperity of the international community. Europe is a region that accounts for approximately 30% of the world’s GDP. It is vitally important for Japan to strengthen its relations with Europe to effectively respond to global issues such as climate change, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as global economic and financial issues. In particular, the United Kingdom and France, which are G8 members and permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as Germany and Italy, also G8 members, have great international political and economic influence, and it is vital for Japan to maintain close relations with these countries for advancing its foreign policy. Japan has built up multifaceted, friendly relations with the countries of Europe, including its traditionally good relations with countries in Northern and Southern Europe and relations with the countries in Eastern Europe as well as Baltic states, which have been aiming at stable economic growth in recent years through entry into the EU and the eurozone.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), consisting of 28 member countries from Europe and North America, has been seeking its role since the end of the Cold War and expanding its field of operations to reconstruction and development in addition to security assistance as well as fight against terrorism through deployments outside of the NATO region, especially through the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan. In this context, NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept for the first time in 11 years in November 2010 and defined its role in order to effectively address with new challenges in the security environment of the 21st century. Japan and NATO are promoting cooperation for international peace and stability as partners that share fundamental values. Especially, Japan and the NATO are developing concrete cooperation in Afghanistan reconstruction assistance including collaboration in the humanitarian activities implemented by the PRTs.