Japan’s Top Military Chief to Join NATO Meeting

Japan’s top military commander departed for Brussels on Monday to attend a NATO meeting this week, which will touch on issues relating to security and defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.General Koji Yamazaki, chief of staff of the Joint Staff, is expected to attend the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense Session on Thursday, Nikkei Asia reported, citing the Japanese Defense Ministry.
This marks the first time a Japanese top military commander has attended such a meeting. Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, which are non-members of NATO, will also be present.
The discussion will center on Chinese maritime expansion in disputed seas and North Korean resumption of missile tests as NATO seeks to enhance cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners.
The meeting comes as Finland and Sweden expressed interest in joining the 30-member security bloc in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Japan is a partner of NATO but not a member state.
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