Japan, Italy to boost military ties amid Russia-Ukraine crisis

The Defense Minister of Japan, Nobuo Kishi, said he, along with his Italian counterpart, has agreed on Tuesday to pace up military alliance as Japan boosts security ties with Europe amid concern about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine & its impact on Asia.

Kishi said that he and Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini talked about the possible expansion of joint military drills and defence technology development.

Guerini, who is planning to visit Tokyo, specifically voiced interest in possible Italian involvement in Japan’s F-X next-generation fighter jet, Kishi stated, refusing to elaborate. It will be going be Japan’s first domestically designed fighter jet in 40 years.

Japan and British have agreed to create a future jointly demonstration fighter jet engine as well as to examine other combat air technologies as well as subsystems. The project comprises Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI in Japan and Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems in the United Kingdom.

The two ministers have decided that Russia’s full-scale military operation in Ukraine weakens the foundation of the international order, not in Europe only but in Asia as well, & is “absolutely impermissible.”

Kishi said, “We approved on the significance for nations that share fundamental values, such as Japan & Italy, to stick together and act resolutely.”

Kishi said Japan highly regards Italy’s interest and involvement in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s increasingly assertive military activity has raised tensions.

Japan, in recent years, has significantly boosted security talks & joint drills with the United States and other partners in the Asia-Pacific region & Europe that share its considerations about China’s view of its territorial claims in the region, which comprises of some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

Japan is not yet holding membership of NATO but has empowered its partnership with the group. It sent Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to join the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting earlier this month to talk about Ukraine.