Latest news with #IP4
Yomiuri Shimbun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Prime Minister Ishiba to Attend NATO Summit in June; NATO-IP4 Cooperation Expected to Be Discussed
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit to be held in The Hague on June 24 and 25, a senior government official said Thursday. He has been invited as the leader of one of the member of the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4). This will be the fourth consecutive year for a Japanese Prime Minister to be in attendance. IP4 consists of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, with the other three members also invited to the summit. NATO considers the group as its partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Raising each country's defense spending will be a major topic of discussion at the summit, with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pressing allies to increase their share of the burden, expected to attend. At the summit, Ishiba is expected to call on NATO members to promote defense cooperation, saying that the security of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are inextricably linked. Measures for cooperation between the IP4 members and NATO are also expected to be discussed. Ishiba is scheduled to meet with Trump during the Group of Seven summit to be held in Canada from June 15-17, and he may also make contact with Trump in the Netherlands.
Japan Times
09-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
NATO chief calls on allies, partners to ‘outproduce and outpace' rivals
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on members of the alliance and its four Indo-Pacific (IP4) partners to work more closely to outproduce Russia militarily and 'outpace' technological rivals such as China to counter what he views as 'existential' threats. 'At this moment, Russia is producing in three months (the amount of) ammunition that the whole of NATO, including the U.S., is producing in a year,' Rutte warned Wednesday during an event at Keio University in Tokyo, calling the massive capacity gap 'unacceptable' and 'unsustainable." 'The deteriorating security situation calls for us to do more, to produce more and boost our resilience. That is exactly what NATO is doing and what Japan is doing. Let's do it together,' Rutte noted ahead of meetings later in the day with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, trade minister Yoji Muto and representatives of several Japanese manufacturers of dual-use products. 'I understand this is not easy but if we don't do it, if we don't up our defense-industrial production — from Texas to Turkey, but also in (South) Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand — (then) we cannot keep ourselves safe. This is really existential,' he warned, while also sounding the alarm over 'harmful dependencies' on third countries that 'do not always share our values.' The NATO secretary-general also proposed extending cooperation between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific partners to cover defense tech and innovation, saying that this is a 'another area where NATO and Japan are closely aligned, and where I believe we can cooperate even more to outpace and outcompete our competitors.' 'We must learn from the battlefield in Ukraine as we prepare for the future,' he said, citing as an example the speed at which Russia has managed to neutralize some of the tech Kyiv has integrated into its drones. Of particular concern, however, is China's growing technological advantage, Rutte stressed. Beijing 'is rapidly developing technologies, integrating them into military capabilities and connecting new technologies together, (thus) multiplying their potential disruptive impact on our societies, our economies and on our security,' he warned. 'Competition in this field is fierce, so to maintain our military superiority and preserve our way of life, we need to innovate better, much faster and together,' he added. Rutte's remarks followed talks with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday after which the Japanese defense chief announced Tokyo's interest in joining the NATO Security Assistance and Training Organization for Ukraine (NSATU) — a Germany-headquarted command launched last summer to plan, coordinate and arrange the delivery of security assistance to Ukraine. Nakatani, however, didn't provide details on what Japan's participation would entail. Rutte inspects the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami stealth frigate as he visits the MSDF's naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday. | REUTERS So far, Australia and New Zealand are the only NSATU operational partners among the IP4 countries. Japan's participation in the mission would not only further institutionalize the partnership but also take ties with the world's largest military alliance to a higher level. The Japanese defense chief also said the two sides would continue to strengthen personnel exchanges, including through the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces officers to NATO headquarters. At the same time, Nakatani expressed Tokyo's intention to further advance 'practical' security and defense cooperation in various fields, such as improving interoperability and progressing "flagship projects" in areas such as cyberdefense, technology and countering disinformation and hostile information. Prior to that meeting, Rutte had visited Yokosuka Naval Base and Mitsubishi Electric Kamakura Works in Kanagawa Prefecture to highlight the military alliance's interest in expanding military-industrial ties. Commenting on the visit, the former Dutch prime minister said he understood that while companies both in Asia and the West need to 'develop and deliver capabilities faster,' they still face a 'real challenge' as they remain partially reliant on supply chains and raw materials from less-friendly countries. Japan already has one of the closest relationships with NATO among any nonmember state. Not only did the two sides upgrade ties in 2023 to what's referred to as an Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP), but Japan has also been taking part in some NATO exercises for several years as it embraces the alliance's view that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is 'inseparable.' 'The (Ukraine) conflict is truly global,' Rutte said, pointing to North Korean troops, Iranian drones and Chinese technologies 'fueling Russia's brutality against Ukraine and supporting Putin's attempts to crush freedom.' The world is watching its outcome very closely, he said. 'If we allow Putin to use force to achieve its aims, it will not go unnoticed,' Rutte said in an oblique reference to China. 'It's Ukraine today, it could be East Asia tomorrow.' While NATO wants the war to end, 'we need a peace that lasts,' he said. For this, Ukraine must remain strong so that Putin 'never again dares to attack, not Ukraine and not anyone else,' he noted, adding that in order to remain strong, Kyiv 'needs our help.' Japan has been making significant contributions in support of Ukraine, something Rutte praised. Not only has it joined international sanctions against Moscow, it has also provided nonlethal defense gear to Ukraine such as surveillance drones, bulletproof vests, helmets, vehicles, tents and medical supplies. Japan is also one of 15 countries to have signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Kyiv, formalizing its support and pledging to conduct consultations in the case of future attacks on the war-torn country. Rutte's two-day Japan visit, his first to the Indo-Pacific since taking office in October, follows talks with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya last week on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels. Japan's top diplomat expressed at the time Tokyo's intention to take ties to an 'even higher level' so as to jointly address security challenges that transcend the region.
Euronews
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
NATO cannot be 'naive' about China's arms build-up, says Rutte
ADVERTISEMENT NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday raised concern about China's arms buildup and military drills near Taiwan and called on the 32 alliance's members to work together to keep free and open sea lanes in the region. 'China is supporting Russia's efforts. China is building up its armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid pace," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters during his first visit to Japan since the beginning of his mandate. 'We cannot be naive, and we really have to work together, assess what is happening,' the NATO chief added from the Japanese navy port of Yokosuka. Rutte's comments follow a meeting of NATO foreign ministers last week in which the alliance's chief stressed that global security threats are more interconnected than ever and that increasing defence spending is key to ensuring NATO's security. 'We are seeing what China is doing. We're seeing how these two theatres, the inner Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic are getting more and more connected by the fact that the Russians are working together with the North Koreans, with the Chinese, with Iran, so we have to look at all these theatres in conjunction and that will be our focus,' he said. The former Dutch prime minister also said NATO is worried about China's military exercises near Taiwan, and 'we follow them very closely.' Japan considers China as a threat in the region and has in recent years accelerated military build-up, including preparing to acquire strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles. Japan, in addition to the United States, has expanded its defence ties with other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, as well as NATO, saying Russia's war in Ukraine underscores that security risks in Europe and Asia are inseparable. The United States wants NATO members to be more involved in the Indo-Pacific region, Rutte said. He welcomed US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's recent trip to Japan to ensure Washington's commitment to strengthen its alliance with Japan and presence in the region. He stressed its importance, noting that Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven that is not in NATO. NATO has also strengthened its ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, known as the IP4, in recent years - a move that has been criticised by Beijing, which fears that Washington is seeking to form a NATO-like alliance in the region.
Al Arabiya
08-04-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
NATO chief says China military expansion ‘staggering'
China's expansion of its armed forces is 'staggering', NATO's chief said on a visit to Japan beginning Tuesday aimed at 'projecting' the alliance's power in the Asia-Pacific region. 'Let us not be naive about China,' Secretary General Mark Rutte told the Japan Times. 'The build-up of their armed forces and investments in their defense industry, and in their defense capabilities, is staggering,' Rutte said in the interview published on Monday. The comment came as he visited the Yokosuka naval base and a Japanese defense contractor on Tuesday before meeting defense minister Gen Nakatani to call for further cooperation. 'NATO and Japan share the same values and we face many of the same challenges,' Rutte told Nakatani. 'China, North Korea and Russia are stepping up their military exercises and their cooperation, undermining global stability, and that means what happens in the Euro-Atlantic matters for the Indo-Pacific and vice versa. 'A stronger Japan-NATO cooperation is necessary in an increasingly dangerous world,' he said. Nakatani echoed the sentiment as Japan goes through a multi-year project to double its military spending to meet changing threats. Rutte was due to meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday. The visit came as US President Donald Trump pressures other members of the mainly European NATO alliance to increase their military spending. At the same time Trump wants Asia-Pacific allies to beef up their militaries to help confront China and contain North Korea. 'The US wants NATO to be more involved (in the region). Not in an Article 5 sense, but in a sense of projecting power, having each other's back within NATO,' Rutte said in the Japan Times interview. NATO's Article 5 provides that if a member nation is attacked, all others will consider this an attack on all and will take action accordingly. NATO has moved to boost ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- the so-called IP4 -- in recent years, with their leaders attending NATO summits. Rutte told the Japan Times last week that NATO wanted to take this partnership to the next level by stepping up information-sharing and defense-industrial cooperation. 'We have to move beyond... joint declarations... let's make it practical,' said the Dutchman, who became NATO chief last October. Japan has increased military cooperation with countries in Europe and last November Tokyo and the European Union announced a new security and defense partnership.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
NATO chief raises concern over China's arms buildup, calls on allies to work togather
The NATO chief on Tuesday raised concern about China 's arms buildup and military drills near Taiwan and called on the organization's members and friendly nations to work together to keep free and open sea lanes in the region. 'China is supporting Russia's efforts. China is building up its armed forces, including its navy, at a rapid pace," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters as he wrapped up his visit to the Japanese navy port of Yokosuka. 'We cannot be naive, and we really have to work together, assess what is happening.' Rutte said NATO is worried about China's military exercises near Taiwan and 'we follow them very closely.' Japan considers China as a threat in the region and has in recent years accelerated military buildup, including preparing to acquire strikeback capability with long-range cruise missiles. Japan, in addition to the United States, has expanded its defense ties with other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, as well as NATO, saying Russia's war on Ukraine underscores that security risks in Europe and Asia are inseparable. The United States wants NATO members to be more involved in the Indo-Pacific region, Rutte said. He welcomed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's recent trip to Japan to ensure Washington's commitment to strengthen its alliance with Japan and presence in the region. He stressed its importance, noting that Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven that is not in NATO. NATO has also stepped up its ties with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, known as the IP4, in recent years, with their officials attending NATO ministerial and summit meetings. Rutte, visiting Japan for the first time since becoming head of the Belgium-based military alliance in October, was set to hold talks with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani later Tuesday and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday. Ishiba has advocated a NATO-like security framework in Asia, though he has not given details. Countries with shared security concerns are strengthening ties as competition escalates between the United States and China. Beijing has criticized NATO's growing ties with the Indo-Pacific partners, worried that Washington may move to form a NATO-like alliance in the region. ___
