Press Releases
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs FUNAKOSHI’s travel to Belgium
October 15, 2026
From October 14 to October 15, Mr. FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, traveled to Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, and exchanged views with representatives of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- EU
Vice-Minister Funakoshi exchanged views with Ms. Kajsa Ollongren, Secretary-General of the European Union’s European External Action Service (EEAS). Vice-Minister Funakoshi stated the importance of Japan and the EU, as strategic partners that share fundamental values, strengthening their coordination, and confirmed that Japan and the EU will further coordinate toward realizing the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) as well as a free and open international order based on the rule of law. Both sides also exchanged views extensively on the current international situation and concurred to continue strengthening cooperation in economic security and in the fields of technology and innovation, including strengthening the resilience of supply chains for critical minerals and critical materials. - NATO
Vice-Minister Funakoshi exchanged views with Mr. Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Chief of Staff of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Both sides concurred that, given the close linkage between security in the Euro-Atlantic and in the Indo-Pacific, it is important to further advance cooperation between Japan and NATO. Both sides also exchanged views extensively on the current international situation and concurred to continue strengthening coordination, building on concrete cooperation in the defense industry and in the fields of technology and innovation.