a day ago
Japanese PM Ishiba absent from Europe at crucial time
Prime Minister Ishiba has visited nine countries in his first nine months in office, but none were in Europe. © Reuters
JUNNOSUKE KOBARA and KANA BABA
TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has not once visited Europe since taking office nine months ago, raising concern that Japan is missing an opportunity to strengthen ties with a continent that is becoming increasingly important in plans to counter China, Russia and North Korea.
Ishiba had planned to attend a NATO summit held in the Netherlands on Tuesday and Wednesday, but canceled at the last minute.
