Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: I am visiting Munich, Germany, to attend the Munich Security Conference and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. France has assumed the G7 Presidency this year, and I attended the first in-person G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under the French Presidency. Amid the volatile international situation, I believe it was very meaningful that the G7 Foreign Ministers candidly exchanged and aligned their views on regional situations, including those in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, among other matters, and reaffirmed our continued coordination. With four G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meetings scheduled for this year, I believe we have made a very good start.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, we held discussions with Foreign Minister Sybiha of Ukraine, with whom I had a telephone meeting before coming here, and reaffirmed coordination between the G7 and Ukraine toward the realization of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We also exchanged views on regional situations and confirmed the importance of the G7 working in close coordination across a wide range of areas, including the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa. Regarding the situation in the Indo-Pacific, I explained Japan’s position on recent developments, expressed concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and once again asked for the continued understanding and cooperation from the other G7 members for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

In addition, we held discussions on international partnerships with Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar of India. I reiterated the importance of reforming the United Nations Security Council to strengthen global governance, which is currently being undermined, as well as the importance of addressing issues related to maritime security in cooperation with India. Building on these exchanges, I explained Japan’s initiatives under the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and once again emphasized the importance of cooperation among like-minded countries.

On this occasion, I also held bilateral meetings with Secretary General Rutte of NATO, Secretary of State Rubio of the U.S., and Foreign Minister Wadephul of the Federal Republic of Germany. With Secretary General Rutte of NATO, based on the recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, we reaffirmed the strategic importance of cooperation between NATO and Japan, as well as between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners, and confirmed that we will continue to work closely together.

With Secretary of State Rubio of the U.S., we held a candid exchange of views on common challenges across a wide range of fields, including diplomacy, security, and economy, as well as on regional situations, and concurred on working together toward the realization of FOIP. We also concurred to work closely together to ensure that Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s visit to the United States, currently being coordinated for March, will be another opportunity to demonstrate the unwavering Japan-U.S. Alliance.

With Foreign Minister Wadephul of Germany, we confirmed that Japan and Germany, close partners sharing common values and principles, will work together toward the realization of FOIP, and concurred on further strengthening our cooperation in the fields of security and economic security. In addition, we are in accord that Japan and Germany will work closely together in addressing the situation in the Indo-Pacific and the situation in Ukraine.

I attended the Munich Security Conference a short while ago and took part in a panel discussion with participants from the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. I outlined three key points regarding my assessment of the security environment, which is undergoing the most significant structural changes since the end of World War II, and emphasized the necessity of maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law under the banner of FOIP. I also pointed out that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable and highlighted the importance of multi-layered cooperation with like-minded countries, including European partners, in addition to strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance.

In this regard, I believe this visit to Munich was meaningful, as it allowed us to share a common understanding of the severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region with other countries and to confirm close coordination with our ally and like-minded countries.

The overall schedule has not yet concluded, as I will attend a working dinner of the Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries on UN Security Council Reform later today. I intend to discuss concrete measures toward Security Council Reform with my counterparts from Brazil, India, and Germany, among others.

That concludes my opening remarks.

Reporter: This is the first time since 2020 that both Japan’s Foreign Minister and Defense Minister attended the Munich Security Conference together. The Japan-China tensions continue, while European countries appear to be moving closer to China due to their distrust toward the U.S. Trump administration. At such a time, what significance do you attach to the two ministers attending the Munich Security Conference, and to their exchanges of views and meetings with ministers and other officials from European countries?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The Munich Security Conference is a forum where leaders and ministers from various countries gather to exchange candid views and discuss a wide range of security challenges facing the international community. This is my third time attending the conference. I have the impression that the number of high-level participants is increasing, and the number of attendees is also growing each time. The international order is undergoing its most significant structural changes since the end of World War II, and the challenges that need to be addressed are both numerous and expanding in scope. Under these circumstances, I believe it was highly significant that both the Foreign and Defense Ministers attended the conference from Japan, presented Japan’s initiatives for maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law, emphasized the importance of cooperation among like-minded countries, and held substantive discussions with many counterparts from our ally and like-minded countries.

Reporter: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended the Munich Security Conference. During the intervals between sessions, did you have any opportunity to exchange words with the Minister? Secondly, the Liberal Democratic Party’s historic landslide victory in the House of Representatives election has provided the TAKAICHI administration with a stable political foundation. What are your thoughts on the positive impact this may have on Japan-China relations?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Today, I was going back and forth between buildings, and as you all saw, it was incredibly crowded. I did not see Foreign Minister Wang Yi, although I believe he was there. Regarding the impact of the general election results on Japan-China relations, I would like to refrain from speculating at this point, less than a week has passed since the election. In any case, Japan’s position remains unchanged: under a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable Japan-China relations,” the Government of Japan will engage in thorough dialogue to reduce issues and concerns, while also advancing mutual understanding and cooperation. The Government of Japan remains open to dialogue with China and intends to continue responding calmly and appropriately going forward.

Reporter: There are reports that Japan, which is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will soon announce its participation in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a framework through which NATO member states purchase U.S. weapons and provide them to Ukraine. Could you share the Government’s policy on this? Additionally, was PURL discussed during your meeting today with Secretary General Rutte?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: In the course of my exchange of views with Secretary General Rutte on the current international situation, we also discussed the situation surrounding Ukraine and support for the country. The Secretary General emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine, provided explanation on NATO’s ongoing efforts, and expressed deepest gratitude for the support Japan has provided to Ukraine through NATO thus far. For my part, I explained Japan’s support for Ukraine, including Japan’s recent decision to contribute an additional EUR 15 million to the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP), a framework for providing non-lethal equipment to Ukraine. Regarding your question on PURL, we also exchanged views on this matter and confirmed that Japan will continue its coordination with NATO. To ensure Ukraine’s social and economic resilience, Japan will continue working with the international community to support recovery and reconstruction through public-private efforts and, in this effort, Japan intends to continue cooperating with NATO.