The international situation is currently challenging, with Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and the security environment in East Asia. The year 2024 also saw key elections in the United States and other parts of the world. Amid this global turbulence, diplomacy is becoming more important than ever before. While giving the highest priority to protecting the lives and property of Japanese citizens, Japanese diplomacy has a responsibility to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the international community, grounded in the trust that Japan has built as a peace-loving nation. As Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, I will actively advance “diplomacy of dialogue and cooperation” based on the following three pillars.

The first is enhancing and strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy and security. We will strive to build a strong relationship of trust with the Trump administration and elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to even greater heights.

The second is cooperating with allies and like-minded countries to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” With the existing international order under challenge, Japan will work to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law, together with the G7, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asian countries, Pacific Island countries, and others.

The third is working with developing and emerging countries, known as the Global South. At a time when the international community is becoming increasingly divided and confrontational, Japan will all the more work closely with not only its ally and like-minded countries, including the G7, but also the Global South, and take the lead in strengthening the international order.

Japanese diplomacy has a mission to steer the world toward reconciliation and cooperation, rather than division and confrontation. Through various diplomatic opportunities, I will continue to steadily build personal relationships with my counterparts and engage in multilayered and multifaceted cooperation with our global partners to enhance the presence of Japanese diplomacy.

The Diplomatic Bluebook 2025 primarily presents an overview of the international situation and Japanese diplomatic initiatives in 2024. It begins with an Opening Special Feature focusing on three international meetings that Japan hosted on cooperation with Global South countries, which are important partners for the future of the international community. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the recent international situation, the major issues that emerged in the past year, and the corresponding outlook for Japan's diplomacy. Following this summary of the Diplomatic Bluebook, Chapter 2 and the following chapters describe Japan's diplomatic efforts over the past year under the titles of: “Japan's Foreign Policy by Region”; “Japan's Foreign Policy to Promote National and Global Interests”; and “Japan's Diplomacy Open to the Public.”

I hope this Diplomatic Bluebook will deepen the understanding of readers at home and abroad about how Japan carries out diplomacy by protecting Japan's national interests in a rapidly changing international situation, while addressing various challenges facing the international community.

In principle, Diplomatic Bluebook 2025 describes an overview of the international affairs and Japan's diplomatic activities from January 1 to December 31 of 2024; however, some important events that occurred until early 2025 are also included.

Chapters 1 to 4 offer overviews of Japan's diplomatic activities throughout 2024 in a concise and easy-to-understand manner, and also include special features delving into specific foreign policy themes and column articles, including contributions from people with global experiences.

This year's and past years' Diplomatic Bluebooks are available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Summaries of Diplomatic Bluebook 2025 in French and Spanish are also due to be available on the website by autumn 2025.

For more details with respect to Chapter 3, Section 2, “Japan's International Cooperation,” please refer to MOFA's publication, White Paper on Development Cooperation - Japan's International Cooperation. It is also available on the MOFA website.

Please note that the titles of persons and names of countries appearing in this book are those as of the events. Website links and 2D codes in this book are those as of publication and may be changed or deleted later. The contents and views expressed in contributions from individuals and organizations do not reflect the position of MOFA. The maps in this book are simplified and may not necessarily be drawn to scale or reflect other details precisely.

Previous Diplomatic Bluebooks:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/index.html

White Paper on Development Cooperation - Japan's International Cooperation:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/page_000017.html