EU–Japan Defence Dialogue and Prospects (2025–2030)

The EU and Japan have significantly elevated their strategic partnership in defence. In November 2024 the two sides formalized a Security and Defence Partnership for joint action across all defence domains. This framework – agreed at a summit and subsequent strategic dialogue – establishes an annual foreign-minister-level security dialogue and multiple thematic working groups (cyber, space, maritime security, WPS, disinformation, etc.). It explicitly ties into broader policy guidelines: the EU’s 2022 Strategic Compass calls for “tailored bilateral partnerships” with like-minded countries including Japan, and Japan’s National Security Strategy likewise emphasizes international cooperation. The partnership reaffirmed shared goals (e.g. upholding a rules-based order, strong maritime security, interoperability). Institutional actors on the EU side include the Commission, EEAS, EDA and defence procurement bodies; on the Japanese side, the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs (along with industry delegations). NATO also remains relevant, as Japan is a close NATO partner and many cooperative activities are complementary to NATO–Japan initiatives. This enhanced EU–Japan defence dialogue thus has implications for European defence governance: it encourages the EU to integrate Indo-Pacific considerations into its policies (for example by aligning EDF projects or CSDP missions with joint EU–Japan objectives) and to coordinate with NATO processes for global stability.