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.