Despite signs that Japan-NATO relations have warmed recently, Japan's membership in NATO remains a distant possibility. The plan to open NATO's liaison office in Tokyo can be considered an appropriate step in the context of the two sides raising the level of security cooperation in the new situation. But this does not mean that Japan will become a member of this military alliance.

In the context of Russia and China's opposition to NATO's move in Asia, Japan will nonetheless have to be more cautious in its related decisions, because otherwise it may create an unfavorable confrontation situation. for regional stability. 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their visit to Japan in January 1. Photo: Nato.int

However, Japan and NATO have recently moved closer together in the context of the two sides sharing common security concerns related to the Indo-Pacific region and the conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Ukraine. According to Prime Minister Kishida, Japan will not seek to join NATO, although Tokyo has constantly increased cooperation with this alliance in recent years. 

Allowing the opening of a NATO office in Tokyo could be an option for Japan to forge a closer relationship with NATO without causing adverse reactions in the region. Recently, the world has witnessed landmark changes in Japan's defense and security policy, including the adoption of "National Security Strategy", "National Defense Strategy" ” and the “Defense Capacity Building Program” with the clear objective of increasing military strength and defense capabilities. The presence of such a NATO agency in Tokyo would to some extent be consistent with the defense and security objectives that Japan is pursuing, as it would contribute to strengthening cooperation between Japan and Japan. with the NATO Military Alliance, for the benefit of both parties.

But it is currently unclear what the specific role of NATO's liaison office in Japan is, how it works, and how it will interact and cooperate with the host country because the two sides still have to discuss about NATO plan. If established, it will be NATO's first office in Asia, aimed at facilitating NATO consultations with regional allies such as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Sources cited by Nikkei Asia said NATO might send a military attaché to Japan to facilitate consultations with allied officials. 

According to Kyodo, Prime Minister Kishida is expected to have a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in July to discuss plans to open a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida confirmed NATO's proposal to open a representative office in Tokyo. He also added that this issue will be discussed in the National Assembly and no decision has been made.

For NATO, the plan to open an office in Tokyo reflects the ambitions of this military alliance in the context that NATO in recent years has openly sought its interests in Asia through efforts to improve relations. with allies in the region. Last summer, NATO invited several countries in the Indo-Pacific for the first time to the summit. Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia are expected to attend the NATO summit in July.

On the Japanese side, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi affirmed that Tokyo and NATO have a long-term relationship. This relationship is seeing strong developments with the visit to Japan by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in January.

During his visit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he would establish a permanent Japanese delegation at NATO headquarters this year to promote specific cooperation activities. According to Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Tokyo's proposal for NATO to open a liaison office in Japan is in response to emerging security challenges in the region. The conflict in Ukraine has had a cross-border impact in Europe, making the world more and more unstable, thereby forcing Japan to recalculate its security posture in the region. 

Closer cooperation with NATO as it is now for Tokyo is suitable to realize the goal of diversifying military cooperation relationships, finding new military partners in the region as well as in the world. world. Joining NATO is not necessary at least at the present time because cooperation between the two sides on the basis of an equal and mutually beneficial partnership will help Tokyo become more autonomous and free in its decisions and steps. own way instead of being bound by the rules of the union. Not to mention, this step could change the already established security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region in which Japan plays a prominent role. 

MAI NGUYEN