Outcome of Prime Minister Kishida's Attendance at the NATO Summit Meeting
[Provisional translation]
On June 29, in the afternoon, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the NATO Summit, as overviewed below.
1. Prime Minister Kishida's attendance at this NATO Summit was at the invitation of NATO and the first time for a Japanese prime minister to participate in this summit. At the NATO Partner Session that Prime Minister Kishida attended were the leaders of the 30 NATO member countries and also of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Finland, Georgia, and the EU, attending as NATO's major partner countries and organizations. Given Russian aggression against Ukraine and the increasingly severe security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, at the meeting, discussions were held regarding future cooperation between NATO and the partner countries and organizations and other such matters.
2. Following the opening statement by NATO Director General Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Kishida spoke at the summit meeting as follows.
(1) As the international community stands at a crossroads in history, the participation of NATO's Asia-Pacific partners including Japan in the NATO Summit expresses the realization that the security of Europe and of the Indo-Pacific is inseparable. Russian aggression against Ukraine is not a problem for Europe alone, but instead an outrageous act that undermines the very foundation of the international order. Well-aligned with the G7 and other like-minded countries, Japan has imposed powerful, unprecedented sanctions. We are at the same time providing humanitarian assistance that considers the sensitivities of the Ukrainian people, financial support, and defense equipment support and accepting evacuees. In addition, we will implement assistance totalling roughly US$1.1 billion, including humanitarian assistance to neighboring countries and responses to the global food crisis.
(2) Russian aggression against Ukraine clearly announced the end of the post-Cold War period. Attempts to unilaterally change the status quo with force in the background are ongoing in the East China Sea and South China Sea. I feel a strong sense of crisis that Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow. The international community must unite in demonstrating that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force will never succeed.
(3) I am deeply concerned that Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons during the current acts of aggression gravely damaged the nuclear non-proliferation regime. In the area surrounding Japan, we can see the progress North Korea has made in developing nuclear weapons and missiles, as well as the build-up of its military capabilities, including nuclear capability, in a non-transparent manner.
(4) In response to the current international situation, Japan will draw up a new National Security Strategy by the end of 2022. In addition, we will fundamentally reinforce our defense capabilities within five years and I am determined to secure a suitable increase in our defense spending to support such a reinforcement. We will strengthen our security cooperation with like-minded countries and our partners while we raise the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights.
(5) NATO is an important partner for Japan, and we are working to further strengthen our cooperation with this Organization. In order to open up horizons for Japan-NATO cooperation, we will accelerate the work to substantially upgrade the Japan-NATO Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP), the cooperation document that exists between Japan and NATO, and develop our cooperation in the fields of cyber, emerging technologies, and maritime security. Cooperation between our defense authorities will also be critical. We will deepen our cooperation by dispatching Self-Defense Forces officials to NATO Headquarters and by other means; we will also expand mutual participation by Japan and NATO as observers in the other's exercises.
(6) I welcome the fact that NATO is strengthening its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visiting Japan at an early date. In addition, we should press forward further with having NATO's Asia-Pacific (AP4) partners of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea participate in NATO summits on a regular basis.
(7) I also intend to cooperate with the NATO member nations in our efforts towards realistic nuclear disarmament. In particular, maintaining and strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) regime, which is the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, is needed now more than ever before. It is essential that we undertake efforts together towards meaningful outcomes at the Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT to be held this August.
(8) Today, NATO and its partners had the opportunity to hold a recognition of global security in common. This will serve as a signpost towards the future. I intend to strengthen our cooperation with those attending this summit with a view to establishing the international order based on the rule of law and realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
