Japan, EU agree to closely cooperate on security

By Michitaka Kaiya / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

13:11 JST, June 28, 2022

MUNICH — Japan and the European Union agreed Monday to closely cooperate on security to defend the international order.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Council President Charles Michel agreed that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region is indivisible, during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit at Elmau Castle in southern Germany.

Kishida thanked Michel for going to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima during his visit to Japan in May to attend a regular Japan-EU summit.

Michel said he was deeply moved by the exhibits at the museum detailing the misery caused by exposure to radiation from the bombings. The EU chief promised Kishida he would work toward the success of the G7 summit scheduled for next year in Hiroshima.

Free, open Indo-Pacific

Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that their two countries will further promote cooperation to realize the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

During their first official in-person discussion, Kishida and Trudeau confirmed they will not tolerate unilateral attempts to change the status quo regarding the situation in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region.