Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Japan, EU launch historic defense partnership

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Nov 2024 20:10
3 Min Read

Under the new partnership, the EU and Japan will pursue "concrete naval cooperation," including joint exercises and port calls that could potentially involve other allied countries.

Listen
  • x
  • EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) shake hands following a signing ceremony at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on November 1, 2024.
    EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) shake hands following a signing ceremony at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on November 1, 2024 (AFP)

Japan and the European Union unveiled a major new security and defense partnership on Friday in Tokyo, a move hailed as historic and "very timely" by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

In partnership with Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Borrell outlined a comprehensive framework to strengthen military cooperation, space security, and defense industry information exchange.

"This is the first agreement of this nature the EU has made with an Asia-Pacific country," Borrell stated, calling the partnership a "historic" step forward.

Highlighting the increasing geopolitical risks both regions face, he remarked that "we live in a very dangerous world," referencing the growing need for political and defense coordination.

Targeting China?

Though not directly naming China, the partnership is said to address security concerns amid Tokyo's recent designation of Beijing as its largest strategic challenge.

Under the new partnership, the EU and Japan will pursue "concrete naval cooperation," including joint exercises and port calls that could potentially involve other allied countries.

Related News

Japan learns the hard way; US alliance is conditional: WaPo

US demands allies' plans in event of Taiwan war erupting

Read more: Japan proposes record defense budget worth $58.5Bln for 2025

The agreement marks a significant shift for Japan, which is now seeking stronger defense ties within the region and has plans to increase its defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, aligning with NATO's standard.

Japan's defense spending is said to counter China's increasing military influence in the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring the self-ruled island back under its control.

Diversifying hardware

Japan's increased defense engagement includes co-developing a new fighter jet with Italy and the UK, planned to be operational by 2035.

Analysts suggest that this EU-Japan partnership could accelerate joint defense projects and open new opportunities for Tokyo's defense industry, which has traditionally relied heavily on US hardware.

Borrell's Tokyo visit comes ahead of his planned discussions in South Korea, where the DPRK's missile tests and allegations of involvement in Ukraine are high on the agenda.

The DPRK recently test-fired a new long-range missile, signaling its reach toward the US, days before the US midterm elections.

Read more: US, South Korea, Japan plan response to DPRK's ICBM test: Blinken

Japan-EU SPA formalized

In a parallel development, Borrell and Iwaya also ratified the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), which will take effect on January 1.

This agreement will serve as the legal foundation for a deeper Japan-EU alliance, which could see Japan playing a more prominent role in the region's collective security efforts, echoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's call for a NATO-like regional alliance.

  • Japan
  • EU
  • China
  • Tokyo
  • Josep Borrell
  • European Union

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS