European Union, Japan Conclude Strategic Alliance

• 1.11.2024, 13:08

Including in the field of defence.

The European Union and Japan have exchanged ratification documents for a strategic partnership treaty. The ceremony was held by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya before the first meeting of the EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue.

‘Japan and the EU are strategic partners working together to uphold and strengthen an international order based on the rule of law and to meet the challenges facing the international community. We have just exchanged instruments of ratification of the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Treaty. It will enter into force on January 1 next year and will be the basis for further development of the strategic partnership,’ the Japanese minister said.

Iwaya added that it also concerns security and defence partnership. Japan is the first country in the Indo-Pacific region to conclude such a partnership with the European Union.

For his part, Josep Borrell emphasised that the partners live in a dangerous world that brings many challenges. Japan is the EU's closest partner in the Indo-Pacific region and relations between the partners have never been stronger, he said.

‘Today we are opening a new chapter in our relations. It is not about trade, economy, but about security and defence. I am very pleased to be here with Minister Iwaya to announce the conclusion of the Strategic and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Japan. This is the first such cooperation programme ever concluded by the European Union with an Indo-Pacific country,’ he said.