Press Releases
1st Japan-Germany Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue
August 18, 2025
On August 18, commencing at 11:30 a.m., Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held the 1st Japan-Germany Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (a meeting for approximately 45 minutes and a working lunch for approximately 60 minutes) with H.E. Dr. Johann Wadephul, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany, who is visiting Japan. The overview is as follows.
1. Opening Remarks
- Minister Iwaya welcomed Minister Wadephul’s visit to Japan and expressed the view that as the international order faces severe challenges, the need for cooperation and collaboration between Japan and Germany, which lead Asia and Europe respectively and are both G7 members, is increasing. He also stated that being able to hold the first Japan-Germany Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue is timely.
- In response, Minister Wadephul stated that Japan is a special partner in Asia that shares the same values and principles, and that Minister Wadephul intends to further deepen cooperation through this strategic dialogue.
2. Bilateral Relations
- Minister Iwaya stated that the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific have become increasingly inseparable, and welcomed Germany’s continued engagement in the Indo-Pacific region through asset deployment and other efforts. Both ministers concurred on strengthening security-related dialogue between the two countries while utilizing public-private frameworks, as well as holding the next Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (“2+2”) at an early date and strengthening cooperation in the cyber domain, to further materialize bilateral cooperation in the security field.
- In addition, both ministers concurred on holding the 2nd Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue this autumn to advance discussions in the Japan-Germany Economic Security Consultations, which were launched last year, in order to jointly address economic security challenges, including enhancing supply chain resilience, which have grown in importance in recent years.
- Furthermore, both ministers confirmed that they will strengthen the foundation for intellectual and people-to-people exchanges between their two countries by promoting the activities of the Japan-Germany Forum and the Japan-German Center Berlin, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
3. Regional and International Situation
- The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine based on recent developments and concurred on continuing to work in close coordination to achieve a just and lasting peace.
- The two ministers also exchanged their views on the situations in the Indo-Pacific region including the policies towards North Korea such as the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and the situations in the Middle East and Africa. They concurred on continuing to work in close coordination to address various challenges facing the international community.
- Both ministers concurred that Japan and Germany will continue to work together to strengthen the functions of the United Nations, including through the reform of the Security Council.