Japan has no plans to join NATO, but the issue of opening an alliance office in Tokyo is under discussion, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting. government meeting, reports Reuters.
According to the Prime Minister, he has no data indicating whether a decision has been made to open a NATO office in Japan. Kishida noted that Japan has no plans to join the alliance as a permanent or associate member.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced plans in May to open a NATO office in Tokyo, the alliance’s first office in Asia. Hayashi stressed that Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine is reflected in world stability. According to him, Japan should strengthen the security of its region. Hayashi said that although the country is not a member of NATO, the opening of the office will show the parties’ close cooperation.
Confirmation from NATO Director General Jens Stoltenberg does negotiations. He called Japan a close and important partner of the North Atlantic Alliance.
NATO includes states located in the North Atlantic Ocean basin, both from Europe and from the North American continent. Japan, located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, is not eligible to join NATO due to its geographical position.
At the same time, NATO has several liaison offices in countries outside the alliance, such as Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Ukraine. They participate in the development of bilateral relations between NATO and these countries and provide their military departments with information and advice support.
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