NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida | Photo: AP

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will conclude his visit to Japan today.

During the visit, Stoltenberg met with multiple high-level Japanese officials, including Japanese State Minister for Defence Toshiro Ino and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Stoltenberg previously visited South Korea to request that the country begin to provide military assistance to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Both Japan and South Korea have so far provided Ukraine with non-lethal aid only. While Japan lacks the advanced defence industry that South Korea has, the country recently committed to increasing its defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027 which could significantly increase the country’s military capabilities in the longer-term.

Stoltenberg is certain to push for more coordination between Japan and NATO in the future—while NATO is restricted to the transatlantic region, a militarily powerful Japan on Russia’s eastern border would further isolate Russia and help serve as a counterweight to China.

Stoltenberg will likely succeed in obtaining future guarantees for greater coordination between NATO and Japan. However, direct Japanese arms deliveries are unlikely in the near-term due to the still-developing capabilities of Japan´s armed forces and arms industry.