Mark Rutte appeals in Tokyo by reinforcing Nato Japan Military Cooperation-Observer

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte defended Tuesday in Tokyo that the cooperation between the Atlantic alliance and Japan further reinforces the recent increase in the Asian country’s military budget.

Rutte underlined Japan’s potential to “develop new skills and innovate in space”, as well as in the military industry, and that the country shares “the same values ​​and the same challenges” as the born.

At a meeting held on Tuesday with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, Rutte pointed to concrete areas in which both parties have deepened collaboration, such as cyberdefesa, maritime security and “crisis response operations.”

The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also stressed Japan’s potential to “develop new skills and innovate in space“As well as in the military industry, manifesting the desire to intensify cooperation in these domains during its intervention at the beginning of the meeting.

“Japan and NATO share the same values ​​and the same challenges“Rutte said, who greeted the Japanese government’s plans to“ increase investment in defense and make the already capable self -defense forces [as forças armadas] even stronger ”.

Japan began in 2024 a significant increase in military expense, with the aim of approaching the goal of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in line with NATO member countries, and to carry its greatest rearmament since the end of World War II, with the acquisition of weapons as long-range and hypersonic missiles.

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“A more solid cooperation between Japan and NATO is necessary in an increasingly dangerous world“Rutte said, referring to the war in Ukraine and” increased military exercises and collaboration “between Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang,” which undermines global stability. “

The Japanese minister also referred to the “aggravation of the security context” that affects both Tokyo and Nato, reaffirming Japan’s will to reinforce collaboration with the alliance, “including support for Ukraine.”

Rutte’s visit to Japan is the first since it took office last October, and is part of the context of growing cooperation between the two parts, motivated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the meeting with Nakatani, Nato’s secretary-general visited the US Yokosuka Naval Naval Base in southern Tokyo, as well as facilities by Japanese giant Mitsubishi.

Rutte’s official agenda in Japan continues Wednesday, with a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.