Press Releases
Joint Exercise in Counter Piracy activities between Japan and NATO
1. On September 25 (Thur.), a joint exercise in counter piracy activities between a unit participating in the NATO Operation Ocean Shield and the Self-Defense Forces was held in the Gulf of Aden.
2. This is the first joint exercise between SDFs and NATO unit engaging in counter piracy activities. The exercise was conducted in line with the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP) between Japan and NATO
on which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached a basic agreement with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during PM’s visit to NATO Headquarters in May 2014. The visit was followed by coordination of planning on joint exercise.
3. For Japan, which promotes “diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the world map,” NATO is a “reliable natural partner” with which Japan shares fundamental values and visions. Japan intends to continue advancing specific cases of cooperation with NATO in a broad range of fields.
*NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NATO is responsible for three core tasks of collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security. The principle responsibility is to defend territories and people of its members. NATO has 28 members.
*IPCP (Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme)
IPCP is a document serving as guiding principles for Japan-NATO cooperation and was signed and announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during PM’s visit to NATO Headquarters on May 6, 2014. IPCP will help advance cooperation in a broad range of fields from global commons such as the seas and cyberspace to disaster relief, women, peace and security, and defense exchanges.
*Outline of Joint Exercise
Vessels : Maritime Self-Defense Forces: Destroyer “Takanami” and P-3C
NATO forces: Danish Navy Combat Support Ship “ESBERN SNARE”
Main Exercise Items: communications exercise, tactical maneuvering exercise, boarding team exercise etc.