Press Releases
Entry into Force of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the French Republic concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology
1. The Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the French Republic concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology was signed in Tokyo on March 13, 2015 by Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gen Nakatani, then-Minister of Defense, Mr. Laurent Fabius, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France, and Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defense of France. On December 1, 2016, the two countries mutually received the notification of the other side of the completion of its internal procedures for the entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement hence entered into force on the same day in accordance with its Article 7, Paragraph1.
2. This Agreement establishes a legal framework for the handling of defense equipment and technology to be transferred between the two countries, with the aim of strengthening joint research, development, and production of defense equipment and technology between Japan and France as well as bilateral cooperation in security and defense fields.
3. This Agreement is to ensure appropriate control of the defense equipment and technology transferred between the two countries regarding the further transfer to third parties and extra-purpose use. It is expected that this Agreement will contribute to closer cooperation between the two countries on defense equipment and technology and to enhancing bilateral security and defense cooperation. It is also expected that this Agreement will contribute to maintaining and improving Japan’s defense production and technological bases, thereby ensuring the security of Japan.