The Japanese and French governments agreed on Wednesday to strengthen their defense cooperation, considering the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to be interconnected in a context of deteriorating global security.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Motegi Toshimitsu, and the Defense Minister, Koizumi Shinjirō, met in Tokyo with their French counterparts. “It is essential to strengthen our diplomatic and military cooperation,” said Motegi during this “2+2” meeting.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, emphasized the urgent need to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The four ministers praised the visits of French naval ships to Japan and the enhancement of military cooperation through joint exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the French armed forces. They also agreed to continue their collaboration in the fields of space and cybersecurity.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, they stressed the importance of ensuring navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz and agreed to maintain consultations for a swift resolution of the crisis.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
