EU and Japan sign new security, defence cooperation agreement

The European Union and Japan announced in Tokyo on Friday that they have signed a new security and defence partnership, focusing on maritime security, as well as cyber and hybrid threats.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell shake hands after signing a Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan

Photo: PAP/EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

EU top diplomat Josep Borrell told the media that the agreement “reaffirmed the need to strengthen EU-Japan cooperation in the field of security and defence, including maritime security, cyber and hybrid threats, in view of the growing regional and global security challenges.”

 ‘We are opening a new chapter in our relations,’ Borell said during a joint press conference with the Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

The EU top diplomat also stressed Japan was EU’s closest ally in the Indo-Pacific region, and that the bloc’s relations with that country were never closer.

(tf)

Source: onet.pl