Japan and Germany Raise Cooperation to a New Level

Japan and Germany have agreed to boost defense cooperation.

According to the Japanese government, their goal is "to actively contribute to the peace and security of international society."

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida explained why Germany is such a valued partner for Japan when he visited Berlin on July 12th.

"The global community faces challenges, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. Efforts between Japan and Germany are becoming even more important to strengthen the international order, based on the rule of law," said Mr Kishida.

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz noted that Japan and Germany have "many things in common". He emphasized their credentials as open democracies, with strong economies and global trade links.

Military Maneuvers

During their Berlin meeting, the two leaders said they would aim to "facilitate the smooth and prompt provision of supplies and services" between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

A German frigate is scheduled to make a port call in Japan this summer of 2014. Meanwhile, a Maritime Self-Defense Force training squadron is planning to stop in Hamburg, according to Japanese officials.

In Berlin, Chancellor Scholz said such agreements "raise bilateral security cooperation to a new level." He thanked Japan for its support for Ukraine.

In media interviews, Mr Scholz has promised Germany will also continue to be strong in its support for Ukraine. He pointed out that Germany is the second biggest donor of military equipment to that country after the United States. 

Last week, Prime Minister Kishida and Chancellor Scholz attended a summit to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO in Washington. While there, they met Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Japan is not a member of NATO. However, it is seen by Germany and the US as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific. In Berlin, Prime Minister Kishida repeated a message he often delivers at international events: The security and defense of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is inseparable.

Mr Kishida has also warned of the threat posed by Russia's closer ties with North Korea. Mr Scholz called the latter development a "clear violation of UN sanctions."

Female Foreign Ministers

Germany and Japan's foreign ministers will meet again soon in Tokyo, alongside defense ministers from both countries.

That event is known as a "2+2." It will provide further opportunity for Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa to engage with her German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock.

Soon after she became Germany's first female foreign minister, Ms Baerbock said, "We can rely 100 percent on Japan. In the United Nations, the G7, and other forums, we fight shoulder-to-shoulder for our shared values and preservation of the rules-based order. Time and again the Government in Tokyo has demonstrated this very clearly in both theory and practice in the face of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."

Foreign Minister Kamikawa appreciates Ms Baerbock's support for her campaign to bring more women into high-level discussions on foreign policy. That is through an initiative called Women, Peace and Security, or WPS.

In 2023, Ms Baerbock gave a speech in which she said that feminist foreign policy is not an ideological rallying cry, but a product of the basic law in Germany. She described it as a cold, hard security issue, because "if women are not safe, then no one is safe." 

Business Opportunities

Jointly addressing economic security challenges is another goal of Japan and Germany. Inevitably, this includes considering how to counter China, which critics accuse of economic coercion.

In recent decades, Germany and China have had a close business relationship. However, trust appears to be breaking down. 

Surveys of German business leaders suggest that many of them would like to partner with countries that share democratic values, and this creates many opportunities for Japanese companies.

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Author: Duncan Bartlett, Diplomatic Correspondent
Mr Bartlett is the Diplomatic Correspondent for JAPAN Forward and a Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute. Read his other articles and essays.