Tokyo: NATO Japan is planning to open a liaison office, its first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region, Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday, citing Japanese and NATO officials.
The media outlet reported that the liaison office would enable discussions with NATO security partners such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, taking into account geopolitical challenges from China and Russia.
Spokesmen for NATO and the Japanese foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment. Wednesday is a public holiday in Japan.
The news outlet said the proposed one-person office is set to open in Tokyo next year, but details such as whether Japan would provide the space or whether NATO would fund it remained unclear.
NATO has similar liaison offices in New York, Vienna, Ukraine and elsewhere.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and pledged with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in the face of “historic” security challenges, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing military power. Did.
Japan and NATO are seeking to deepen cooperation on cyber threats, disruptive technologies and disinformation, with the aim of signing an individually tailored partnership program ahead of the NATO summit in July, Nikkei Asia reported.
The media outlet reported that the liaison office would enable discussions with NATO security partners such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, taking into account geopolitical challenges from China and Russia.
Spokesmen for NATO and the Japanese foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment. Wednesday is a public holiday in Japan.
The news outlet said the proposed one-person office is set to open in Tokyo next year, but details such as whether Japan would provide the space or whether NATO would fund it remained unclear.
NATO has similar liaison offices in New York, Vienna, Ukraine and elsewhere.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and pledged with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen ties in the face of “historic” security challenges, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing military power. Did.
Japan and NATO are seeking to deepen cooperation on cyber threats, disruptive technologies and disinformation, with the aim of signing an individually tailored partnership program ahead of the NATO summit in July, Nikkei Asia reported.