I delivered a speech at the meeting of ambassadors from EU member states and exchanged views with the ambassadors on the recent international situation.
As a broad framework for considering future Japan-Europe relations, the security of the Indo-Pacific and Europe-Atlantic regions has become truly inseparable.
“Today’s Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia.”
At the time the invasion began, as Prime Minister, I witnessed Russia’s blatant attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo through force, and I considered this not merely a European issue, but a grave problem that would have a significant impact on the entire international community, including East Asia.
Based on this perspective, I attended the NATO summit as Japan’s Prime Minister for the first time in 2022.
The “evolved FOIP” announced by the Japanese government last month aims to achieve prosperity and stability across the entire region through cooperation with allied and like-minded countries.
Japan and the EU, as strategic partners, will further deepen our cooperation, and together with everyone in Europe, I would like to demonstrate once again that maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order will truly bring benefits to the international community.
: Fumio Kishida
Former Prime Minister and Member of the House of Representatives of Japan.