‘Since the aggression by Russia to Ukraine, the world has become more unstable.’ — Japan’s foreign minister confirms discussions with NATO to open a liaison office, the first of its kind in Asia

3 comments

1. CNN sought confirmation^1 of a development first reported in Nikkei Asia:^2

   >We are already in discussions, but no details (have been) finalized yet,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Wednesday.

   >“The reason why we are discussing about this is that since the aggression by Russia to Ukraine, the world (has) become more unstable,” he said.

   >He added that Japan is not a treaty member of NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – but that the move sends a message the bloc’s Asia Pacific partners are “engaging in a very steady manner” with NATO.

   >The opening of a NATO liaison office in Japan would mark a significant development for the Western alliance amid deepening geopolitical fault lines, and is likely to attract criticism from the Chinese government, which has previously warned against such a move.

   >The Nikkei Asia first reported plans to open the office in Japan last Wednesday, citing unnamed Japanese and NATO officials.

   ^1 Jessie Yeung and Marc Stewart (10 May 2023), “Japan is in talks to open a NATO office as Ukraine war makes world less stable, foreign minister says”, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/10/asia/japan-foreign-minister-hayashi-nato-intl-hnk/index.html

   ^2 Ken Moriyasu, Reiko Miki, and Takashi Tsuji (3 May 2023), “NATO to open Japan office, deepening Indo-Pacific engagement”, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/NATO-to-open-Japan-office-deepening-Indo-Pacific-engagement

2. Putin did a good job making everybody aware that we still need NATO and should strengthen it.

3. Let’s NATO!!