Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced at a news conference on June 15 that Japan would officially participate in the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting later in June.

The NATO meeting is scheduled for June 29 and 30 in Madrid, Spain. The event takes place on the tail of the G7 meeting in Schloss Elmau, Germany, which runs from June 26 to 28. 

Since tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated in late 2021, the North Atlantic Alliance has been thrust into the limelight. It is expected to address security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"We want to further the relationship of trust with other countries, and to do all in our power to protect peace in Japan and the rest of the world," said Kishida on June 15, pushing the idea of what he calls "realism diplomacy for a new era."

The Madrid summit is anticipated to emphasize a shared commitment to deterrence for China's activities in the Indo-Pacific area. Japan's prominence as a vital participant in this sector has been rising. Since March, Kishida has traveled to India, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the G7 summit in Brussels.

Keeping the status quo from being altered by force, notably by China, was also a focal point of the Shangri-La Dialogue on security, which took place in Singapore from June 10-to 12.

"In order to protect the region's safety and stability, we want to appeal to China to act responsibly," Kishida said on June 15.

"We wish to make it abundantly clear that unilateral attempts to alter the status quo will not be tolerated, regardless of where they occur in the world," he concluded.

Improving Neighborly Relations

Japan is also balancing its relationship with China. In the same press conference, Kishida underlined the significance of "discussing topics of concern, finding common ground and collaborating on those matters [with China]."

In addition to Japan, NATO has asked its other Asia-Pacific partners, including South Korea and Australia, to attend the summit.

According to media sources, President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea is expected to attend. That has raised the possibility of the first meeting between PM Kishida and his Korean counterpart.

In recent years, Japan-Korea ties have been icy under the administration of Moon Jae In.

"Given the difficult security situation in East Asia, Japan's strategic relationship with the United States and South Korea is of the utmost importance," said Kishida, underlining that "It's unthinkable to just allow Japan-Korean relations to stay as they are."

However, the Japanese prime minister refrained from mentioning specific themes that might be discussed between the two presidents.

The G7 and NATO Summits coincide with a hectic period for the Kishida administration. The Diet has just adjourned to prepare for national elections, slated to take place on July 10 for members of the Upper House of Japan's parliament.