Japan and Finland strengthen defense cooperation, affirming that security in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe are inseparable.

The defense ministers of Japan and Finland agreed to promote negotiations on the transfer of defense equipment and information security.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (right) and his Finnish counterpart Antti Hakkanen during a meeting in Tokyo on September 12. (Source: Kyodo)

During a meeting in Tokyo on September 12, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and his Finnish counterpart Antti Hakkanen pledged to strengthen cooperation against unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

The two sides agreed to work closely to deepen bilateral defense cooperation and exchanges. Minister Kihara expressed support for Finland's decision to apply for NATO membership in April 2023.

Faced with China's growing military posture and the conflict in Ukraine, Tokyo has strengthened ties with NATO members, Kihara said, asserting that the security of the Indo- Pacific region and Europe are inseparable.

The two Ministers welcomed the development of defense cooperation and exchanges in various areas based on the Japan-Finland Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to promote the establishment of frameworks on defense equipment transfer and information security.

The two sides also discussed issues such as cooperation in the field of defense equipment and technology, responding to hybrid threats, and strengthening cooperation with Nordic countries, NATO and the EU.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhat-ban-phan-lan-tang-cuong-hop-tac-quoc-phong-khang-dinh-an-ninh-khu-vuc-an-do-duong-thai-binh-duong-va-chau-au-khong-the-tach-roi-286044.html