Image Credits - The Japan News
In a significant move to enhance security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Berlin, following Kishida’s participation in the NATO summit in Washington. This visit, aimed at addressing shared economic and security challenges, underscores the increasing importance of alliances in maintaining regional stability.
During their meeting, both leaders emphasized the necessity of a united response to economic security threats. “It is important that allies and like-minded countries take a united response to the challenges in economic security,” Kishida stated. Scholz echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to diversify supply chains to mitigate reliance on specific countries, notably in response to China’s economic practices.
The leaders announced plans for “two-plus-two” security talks, involving their defence and foreign ministers, to be held in Japan at an early date. This initiative aims to foster deeper military and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
A key outcome of the meeting was the activation of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), streamlining the sharing of food, fuel, and ammunition between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the German military. This agreement, effective from Friday, is expected to facilitate more efficient joint operations.
Additionally, Kishida and Scholz agreed to establish a new bilateral framework for economic security consultations, addressing economic coercion and strengthening supply chains for critical products like semiconductors. They also committed to advancing cooperation in research and development of “Beyond 5G/6G” technologies, cybersecurity, and international AI regulations.
The meeting concluded with both leaders affirming their intent to hold further intergovernmental consultations in Germany next year, reinforcing their shared commitment to a free and fair international economic order.