In the latter half of this month, Japan’s foreign and defense ministers visited Germany for the Munich Security Conference. The foreign minister attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and met with the NATO secretary-general and the foreign ministers of the United States and Germany, reaffirming the importance of international coordination. He also joined a panel discussion, stressing the need to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law. The defense minister met with the NATO secretary-general and the defense ministers of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy, and Canada, emphasizing that Euro-Atlantic and Indo- Pacific security are inseparable and pledging close cooperation. He also delivered a speech on Japan’s security policy and participated in a dialogue on the main stage of the Munich Security Conference.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense also held the Japan–Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD), inviting Pacific Island countries, regional partner countries, and ASEAN countries. Through this meeting of defense ministers, discussions deepened mutual trust and confirmed stronger cooperation in addressing shared challenges.

Separately, plans were announced to increase the deployment of the United States’ advanced missile systems in the Philippines.