On 17 April, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Toshio Ino attended the first meeting of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue, launched by the industries of both the EU and Japan under the EU-Japan Competitiveness Alliance established at the EU-Japan annual Summit meeting in July 2025, recalling the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership signed in November 2024.
The Defence Industry Dialogue brought together defence industries and associations from the EU and Japan. The event also featured a video message from Masahisa Miyazaki, State Minister of Defence, and was attended by representatives from Japan, including officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Defence (MOD). Representatives from the European Commission’s Directorates-General DEFIS, GROW and TRADE, as well as the EEAS, likewise participated.
Representatives from EU and Japan agreed on the following points:
Both sides recall that this dialogue forms part of the implementation of the EU -Japan Competitiveness Alliance, which aims to further enhance our joint competitiveness in a strategic manner and grow together through this Alliance, and jointly lead international discussions.
Both sides recognise that strengthening the defence industrial base is a shared priority for the EU and Japan, and that reinforcing security through partnership is essential in an increasingly challenging security environment. They express a strong shared interest in enhancing the resilience of defence supply chains—including dual-use sectors—between the EU and Japan, and confirm that they will continue to exchange views to advance various forms of cooperation related to defence industrial matters.
Both sides welcome the launch of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue (DID) by the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC) as a platform to promote collaboration on defence industry between the EU and Japan, including advanced and dual-use technologies.
Both sides welcome the envisaged signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote collaboration between the ASD and the SJAC regarding defence industry cooperation.
Source:
www.eureporter.co
