Tokyo –
The leaders of Japan and Italy on Monday announced cooperation in security and defense, including joint development of next-generation fighter jets with Britain, as Tokyo welcomed the European nation’s move towards a greater role in the Indo-Pacific. announced that it would strengthen the
After talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed Italy’s move to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, calling for several visits and joint exercises by warships, including an Italian strike group, this year. is planned.
“Japan and Italy are valuable strategic partners who share values and principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” Kishida said.
Mr. Kishida also praised the progress made in the joint development of a new advanced fighter jet with the United Kingdom.
In December, the three countries signed an agreement to establish a joint organization to develop a new, cutting-edge jet fighter for deployment in 2035.
Meloni said the next generation of fighter jets means “innovation, growth and jobs.” He hinted that joint military exercises with Japan will be held later this year, in which Italian aircraft carriers and fighter jets will take part.
Japan, which is rapidly building up its military, welcomes Britain’s growing presence in the Indo-Pacific region while hoping to improve its ability to counter China’s growing assertiveness. Italy recently withdrew from China’s global Belt and Road Initiative after it appeared to have received little benefit from it.
The joint development of the fighter jet involves Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Britain’s BAE Systems, and Italy’s Leonardo.
However, this plan depends on whether Japan will ease the ban on the export of lethal weapons jointly developed after the war to third countries, which the Kishida administration is struggling to finalize by the end of February. There is.
Mr. Kishida promised Mr. Meloni’s full support for the success of the Puglia summit in June.
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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.