Japan Confirms GCAP Cooperation With Italy at Munich as Koizumi Rallies Allies
The meetings delivered political alignment on defense‑industrial cooperation rather than new program milestones.
Overview
- Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto for about 20 minutes at the Munich Security Conference and confirmed continued cooperation on the Global Combat Air Programme.
- The two ministers agreed to work closely together based on the view that Euro‑Atlantic and Indo‑Pacific security are inseparable.
- Koizumi met U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Thomas Tillis, Mark Kelly, and Ruben Gallego, reaffirming a commitment to strengthen the Japan–U.S. alliance and support peace and prosperity in the Indo‑Pacific.
- Koizumi also held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on strengthening cooperation between Japan, NATO, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea to bolster deterrence, according to Japanese media reporting.
- Separate exchanges with New Zealand and Canadian counterparts focused on steps to deepen bilateral defense cooperation.