Japan Says Willing To Join NATO’s Training Mission For Ukraine’s Military
Japan’s government says it is willing to participate in NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission.
The announcement was made during NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to Japan from April 8 to 9. The trip was Rutte’s first visit to Japan as head of NATO, with Rutte saying in a joint statement with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that he welcomed the declaration and thanked Tokyo for its previous supplies of aid.
Japan has previously donated “non-lethal” personal equipment like body armor, communications equipment, and mine detection equipment, light vehicles such as Type 73 light trucks, as well as financial grants and loans to Ukraine through mechanisms including NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund for Ukraine.
According to NATO, the Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission has three focus areas:
- oversee training of Ukrainian armed forces at training facilities in Allied countries
- provide support to the long-term development of Ukraine’s Armed Forces
- support Ukraine through planning, coordination of donations with Allies and partners, transfer of security assistance material, and repair of equipment
Other topics discussed during the April 9 meeting between Rutte and Ishiba included cyber defence cooperation, maritime security, and defense industrial cooperation between NATO and Japan. According to the joint statement, NATO-Japan defense industrial cooperation would focus on areas like developing dual-use technologies, advanced technologies, and enhancing standardisation, assisted by Japan’s current participation in NATO’s Conference of National Armaments Directors, the NATO Industrial Advisory Group, and the Main Armaments Groups.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba said a strong NATO would benefit Japan due to the alliance’s role as a bridge between Europe and the United States, adding that the NATO-Japan partnership had strategic importance for the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
“I also very much welcome Japan’s plan to invest 2% of its GDP in defence by 2027 and your continued investments in your armed forces”, said Rutte during the joint press conference. “This will make Japan’s already capable forces even stronger”.