1st EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue: EU High Representative Borrell meets Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya held their first EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue on 1 November in Tokyo.

During the Dialogue, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya announced the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership. Japan is the first country in the Indo-Pacific to adopt such a political framework for enhanced cooperation on security and defence with the European Union.

The new partnership will frame, streamline and enhance bilateral cooperation and dialogue on key areas such as maritime security, participation in EU missions and operations space security and defence, cyber issues, Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) and disinformation, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and disarmament, and defence initiatives and industry, among other. The agreement underlines the strategic importance of deepening cooperation on security and defence in the face of growing and multifaceted security challenges.

During their discussions, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya reaffirmed their staunch commitment to peace, stability and prosperity, grounded in shared values and common interests. They highlighted the importance of closer collaboration on regional and global security, with particular focus on the interconnected security environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The EU was welcomed as a close partner in Asia.

The High Representative and the Foreign Minister also reiterated their unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s war of aggression and their condemnation of third-country support to Russia’s illegal war of aggression. They also shared their grave concern over Russia’s deepening military cooperation with the DPRK, including the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia and arms transfers between DPRK and Russia which flagrantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In their discussions, the High Representative and the Foreign Minister also shared serious concerns about the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and increase tensions that could undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order. Both reaffirmed that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of strategic importance for regional and global security and prosperity.

High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Iwaya expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East. They called for an immediate ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border and in Gaza, as well as for the release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian access. They stressed the need for a renewed focus on a two-state solution and the protection of civilians and peacekeepers in conflict zones, particularly in line with UN mandates.

They also announced the formal entry into force of the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement at the end of 2024, following ratification by all 27 EU Member States. The SPA has been applied on a provisional basis since February 2019, and has produced a deepening of bilateral ties across all policy dimensions and issues of global concern.

Background

The establishment of a Strategic Dialogue at foreign ministerial level was agreed at the 2023 EU-Japan Summit, and marks a key moment in strengthening the bilateral security partnership.

EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership Agreement

EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership

Source – EEAS

We live in a very dangerous world. We live in a world of growing rivalries, climate accidents and threats of war. And there is only one antidote to this challenging world, which is partnerships among friends.

Japan is the EU’s closest partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Our bilateral relations between Japan and the European Union have never been stronger. But they can be improved.

I am very happy to be here in Tokyo once again, to meet for the first Strategic Dialogue under the recently ratified EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement.

And today we open a new chapter in our relations. A new chapter that is not about trade or economics, this is about security and defence.

I am extremely pleased to be here with Minister Iwaya to announce the conclusion of this Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Japan.

It is the first agreement of this nature that we conclude with the Indo-Pacific countries. And it is so important because we are fully aware that the Indo-Pacific is the theatre of the history of mankind will be written in this century.

It’s a historical and very timely step given the situation in both of our regions.

This political framework deepens our ability to tackle emerging threats together, and work towards a future where our values of democracy, human rights, and the rules-based international order will continue to guide the way.

I would like to thank you, Minister, and our Japanese partners for your trust and our shared vision. Together, we are reinforcing our ties, and building a stronger, more secure future for our regions, for our people and for the world.

Link to the video (starting at 06:30): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-263113

Source – EEAS