Japan and Germany Hold First Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo on August 18
Focus on Ukraine, Security Cooperation, and Economic Security
The foreign ministers of Japan and Germany held their first strategic dialogue in Tokyo on August 18 to discuss international affairs.
According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kyodo News, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine during their meeting and agreed to work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The two sides discussed North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, as well as the abduction issue, and also held talks on the situations in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. They further agreed to hold a Foreign and Defense Ministers' (2+2) meeting at an early date and to promote security cooperation through defense equipment and technology collaboration. In addition, the two foreign ministers decided to hold the second working-level 'Economic Security Dialogue' this fall to strengthen semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Iwaya, mindful of China's maritime expansion, stated at a press conference that "Europe and the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable," emphasizing that close cooperation between Japan and Germany, both G7 member countries, is important.
Minister Wadephul, keeping China in check, said, "Rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea have a significant impact on security in each region."
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