Press Releases
Japan-EU Political Directors Dialogue
February 18, 2026
On February 18 in Tokyo, Mr. NAMAZU Hiroyuki, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-EU Political Directors Dialogue with Mr. Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, European External Action Service of the European Union. The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- Senior Deputy Minister NAMAZU stated that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is closely interconnected and expressed Japan’s desire to further deepen strategic cooperation with the EU across a wide range of fields. Deputy Secretary General Skoog shared this view, and they concurred to elevate Japan-EU relations to new heights, not only in their close economic and trade ties but also through cooperation in the political and security fields.
- Both sides exchanged wide-ranging views on international situations, including Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East, in addition to Japan-EU relations.
- Both sides concurred that Japan and the EU will continue to cooperate closely within multilateral frameworks such as the G7, G20 and the United Nations.