Press Releases
1st Japan-EU Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue
November 1, 2024
On November 1 , commencing at 6:20 p.m., Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held the 1st Japan-EU Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (approximately 40 minutes for meeting, approximately 90 minutes for working dinner) with H.E. Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission. The overview of the Strategic Dialogue is as follows. Before the Strategic Dialogue, the exchange of instruments related to the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) took place, and the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership was released.
- At the outset, conecerning a flood hit in Spain, High Representative Borrel’s home country, Foreign Minister Iwaya expressed his deep condolences to the victims and bereaved families, and extended his sympathy to those affected by the disaster.
- Foreign Minister Iwaya stated that he is delighted that among the Indo-Pacific countries, Japan became the first country to announce the Security and Defence Partnership with the EU. Both concurred on strengthening concrete cooperation and dialogues including the security field, the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership and the Japan-EU SPA at their foundations.
- Japan-EU Relationship
- Concerning the Japan-EU Security and Defence Partnership, both sides concurred on strengthening concrete cooperation and dialogues between Japan and the EU in areas such as cyber, space, response to hybrid threats, and maritime security, given the current severe security environment.
- Both sides also concurred on further deepening the Japan-EU relationship in both political and economic fields under the Japan-EU SPA and the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
- Foreign Minister Iwaya stated that he highly valued the fact that High Representative Borrell took the leadership in dramatically enhancing EU’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, such as through announcing the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as well as hosting the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. Both sides once again shared their recognition that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable, and confirmed that Japan and the EU will closely coordinate with each other in upholding a free and open intenational order.
- Regional/ International Situations
Both sides had candid discussions on regional situations in East Asia, including North Korea’s ICBM-class ballistic missile launch on October 31, Ukraine, Middle East and others. Both sides expressed their serious concerns about the recent development of the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including North Korea’s deployment of its troops to Russia, and concurred on continuing to provide strong support for Ukraine and impose severe sanctions against Russia.