In an era characterized by shifting global dynamics and the multifaceted threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), NATO has intensified its engagement with Asia-Pacific nations. This strategic pivot emphasizes the alliance’s commitment to bolstering its influence within the Asia-Pacific, involving countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The latest testament to this endeavor is Japan’s invitation to join forces at this year’s U.S.-hosted summit, aimed at addressing the CCP’s strategic ambitions.
The upcoming summit between the United States and Japan on April 10 in Washington is poised to cement this burgeoning partnership, with an invitation for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to attend the July NATO Summit in the United States. Discussions are already underway with the Japanese government to facilitate this significant participation.
The NATO summit agenda is set to cover pivotal issues, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and strategies to counteract the influences of both the CCP and Russia. This event seeks to strengthen ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, thereby fostering global cooperation.
President Joe Biden’s dedication to supporting Ukraine, deterring Russian aggression, and forming strategic alliances with both NATO and Indo-Pacific nations highlights the significance of Japan’s inclusion in the NATO Summit. Japan’s steadfast support for Ukraine further solidifies its status as an essential ally in promoting regional unity and cooperation.
US, Japan, and South Korea to Convene Trilateral Talks at NATO Summit
This year’s NATO Summit is not only significant for Japan’s prime minister’s expected attendance but also for South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, with plans confirmed by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A crucial trilateral meeting among the United States, Japan, and South Korea is slated to occur on the sidelines, aimed at reinforcing the discussions from the NATO sessions and enhancing multilateral relations.
The history of trilateral cooperation among these nations includes notable engagements like the 2022 NATO Summit in Spain, a sideline meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco, and a landmark summit at Camp David.
The forthcoming discussions will explore avenues for deepening tri-nation cooperation, with a focus on interoperability between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean military, collective defense strategies, intelligence sharing, and cybersecurity.
The context for this collaboration is amplified by the expanding military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, highlighting a significant threat to the United States, NATO, and the trilateral alliance. The trilateral talks will delve into strategies for addressing the North Korea-Russia military nexus and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, aiming to foster a unified approach to these challenges.
Amidst growing concerns over the CCP’s global influence, the summit’s discussions will also prioritize strategies to counter CCP activities, alongside addressing threats from Russia and North Korea. These conversations will span military, diplomatic, and economic security domains, including the crucial aspect of securing resilient supply chains for semiconductors and other critical materials.
The trilateral engagement reflects a collective stance against challenges posed by the CCP, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, safeguarding international norms and the global order. The United States, along with its Asian allies—Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—remains dedicated to upholding the international rules-based order, as demonstrated by the ongoing invitations to these nations for the NATO Summits.
Countering the CCP’s Influence
At the NATO Summit held in Lithuania on July 12 last year, the participation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was a notable affirmation of the strengthening ties between NATO and Asia-Pacific nations. This summit underscored NATO’s focus on the systemic challenges that the CCP presents to global security, interests, and values.Following the summit, NATO released a communique that specifically identified the CCP’s ambitions and policies as significant threats to the stability of the Euro-Atlantic region. This declaration, spurred by Mr. Kishida’s involvement, emphasized the critical need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries to counter these challenges effectively.
The summit introduced the “Strategic Concept,” a key document that, for the first time, acknowledged the adverse impacts of the CCP on NATO’s security and values. The communique elaborated on the CCP’s use of political, economic, and military measures to expand its global influence, critiquing the lack of transparency in China’s strategic and military initiatives. It condemned the CCP’s cyber activities, online hostility, misinformation campaigns, and monopolization attempts of critical technologies, industries, and supply chains as direct threats to international security and order.
The CCP sharply criticized the communique, denouncing it as a manifestation of a Cold War mentality and ideological biases, and strongly opposed NATO’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
NATO reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, acknowledging that developments in this region have a direct impact on Euro-Atlantic security. The alliance pledged to intensify its engagement with crucial Asia-Pacific partners—Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea—to tackle shared security challenges and support the rule-based international order.
The consistent inclusion of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand in consecutive NATO Summits highlights an ongoing effort to build a cohesive stance against global security threats. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in an article for Foreign Affairs magazine, articulated the need for a global consensus on security risks and for cooperation with the “Asia-Pacific Four” to enhance societal, economic, and democratic resilience.
While the NATO communique did not directly address Taiwan, Stoltenberg brought attention to the CCP’s coercive policies toward Taiwan in a press conference. Additionally, Lithuania’s Indo-Pacific strategy document, released before the summit, criticized the CCP for its aggressive behavior towards Ukraine and efforts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, labeling these acts as significant provocations.
Shinzo Abe’s Legacy in Pioneering Japan-NATO Relations
Shinzo Abe’s tenure as Prime Minister of Japan marked a significant era in shaping the relationship between Japan and NATO, setting a precedent for deepened cooperation that endures to this day. His landmark visit to NATO headquarters in Belgium in 2007 was a defining moment, where Abe highlighted the congruence of values—freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law—shared by Japan and NATO, underscoring a natural alliance in safeguarding these principles on a global scale.This visit was instrumental in establishing a formalized partnership, with Abe’s leadership guiding Japan to become one of NATO’s global partners. A defining moment in this growing partnership occurred in 2013 when then NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Japan.
During this visit, Mr. Abe and Mr. Rasmussen signed the “Joint Political Declaration between Japan and NATO,” laying the groundwork for future cooperation. Mr. Abe’s subsequent visit to NATO headquarters in 2014 culminated in the formation of the “Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme between Japan and NATO,” integrating Japan’s collaboration with NATO into its National Defense Program Guidelines.
This mutual understanding of the critical role of shared perspectives on the security environment in Asia has underscored the significance of Japan-NATO cooperation. Such collaboration sends a strategic message to those threatening the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
In the aftermath of the Cold War, NATO’s principle of “collective defense” has been adapted to encompass not only traditional military threats but also emerging non-traditional challenges. Acknowledging the need for evolution, NATO has sought to collaborate with non-member countries, including Japan, to confront these external challenges through dialogue and joint security initiatives. This strategic evolution in Japan-NATO relations has emphasized cooperative efforts in counter-terrorism, cyber defense, maritime security, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief.
The establishment of the “Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme” in 2014 represents a shared commitment between Japan and NATO to prevent conflicts and manage crises collaboratively. This alignment of strategic interests has led to enhanced cooperation in areas vital to global security.
NATO’s strategic extension into the Indo-Pacific, with a particular focus on Japan, responds to the changing global security landscape, marked by challenges such as Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the assertive stance of the CCP. This strategic orientation aims to confront the CCP’s increasing influence, demonstrating NATO’s dedication to countering systemic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region through fortified alliances and partnerships.
