I spent the best part of a week in Japan as part of a NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) project we are running on future trends in the Indo-Pacific. It was an intensive week of events and meetings and I was privileged to exchange views with government(al) representatives from Japan, Spain, the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). It was also great to meet with Japanese academic friends. As always, the elegance and ceremony of Japan is inspirational: a great country.

A few writings will emerge on the back of my trip, not least as part of the NATO SPS project. Before they are published, however, let me sketch out below in a telegraphic manner the main themes discussed: security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and economic security. 

We covered a lot of ground on the security front, especially with ideas on how Japan, the EU and NATO can enhance practical cooperation (in the backs of most peoples’ minds in this regard was the forthcoming US presidential election). The usual avenues, such as maritime security, were underlined but it was clear that more is needed: space was frequently mentioned as an area ripe for deeper cooperation. There was a perception too that the EU and Japan had barely scratched the surface on cooperation to counter foreign information manipulation and interference. And yes, there was interest in how Japan could potentially plug-in to DIANA, the NATO Innovation Fund, Permanent Structured Cooperation and the European Defence Fund. Japan is keeping a close eye on how deterrence functions in Europe vis-a-vis Russia, but there is a sense in which Europeans do not fully appreciate similar dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. We kept coming back to deterrence from an inter-theatre perspective during our discussions.

In practical terms, an emphasis was placed here on Europe’s potential role in producing ammunition and investing in logistics as part of any military contingency in the Indo-Pacific. Yet, such steps need to be undergirded by a deeper exchange of information between Japan and Europe. Inevitably, many of the panel discussions that I attended pointed to the furore behind the idea for a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. Many in Japan (and beyond) were frustrated by how the French President handled the affair, but ultimately the lack of an office will not stop the unprecedented level of dialogue and exchange that exists between NATO and Japan today. 

Economic security is probably the area with the most potential as far as EU-Japan relations is concerned. In Tokyo, experts are watching what direction economic security takes in the Union, especially after the European elections and with the new European Commission. Japan does not appear to be experiencing some of Europe’s “hang ups” about industrial policy: in Japan, economic security is framed as boosting competitiveness in a safe manner rather than “protectionism”. In this sense, the conversation focused on de-risking and partnerships. Even though the EU and Japan have an Economic Partnership Agreement in place, it was felt that greater cooperation in technology sharing could take the relationship to a new level. Both Japan and Europe should also not forget that businesses need to be part of economic security strategies. The core challenge, however, was identified as the need for close partners (US, EU, Japan) to avoid any dramatic turns in economic and industrial policy. The balance needed in maintaining national security and economic competitiveness across the US-led alliances was not an easy one: unilateralism can set back the cause of economic resilience. 

So, much more reflection and dialogue is required on the topics of inter-theatre deterrence and economic security. While at Keio University’s museum, there was a placard with quotes from notable Japanese academic texts. One, from Keio’s founder Yukichi Fukuzawa, reads: “learning is completely useless if it does not involve the understanding of the bonds between things”. Fukuzawa, having travelled to Europe and America on multiple occasions during the 19th century, was all too aware of the importance of forming lasting bonds during tumultuous periods. In this respect, Japan, Europe and the United States have no choice but to strengthen their bonds, come what may.