Japan and EU announce security partnership amid growing regional tensions
Al Jazeera
EU and Japan to enhance military ties through joint exercises and defence industry exchanges against regional threats.
Japan and the European Union have announced a security and defence partnership, as they seek to step up military ties amid growing tensions with China, North Korea and Russia.
“We live in a very dangerous world,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Tokyo on Friday, alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
“We live in a world of growing rivalries, climate accidents and threats of war. And there is only one antidote to this challenging world, which is partnerships among friends,” Borrell added, announcing the security partnership.
The agreement is the first that the EU has concluded with an Asia Pacific country, the two officials said.
“It is an historical and very timely step given the situation in both of our regions,” Borrell said.
