Meeting with NATO Secretary General and Indo-Pacific Partners

On July 7, 2026, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who was visiting Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO Summit, attended a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the IP4, together with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The IP4 consists of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea; the meeting was attended by the President and Minister of National Defense from South Korea and defense-related ministers from Australia and New Zealand.

Secretary General Rutte expressed his intention to strengthen relations with the IP4, while Minister Koizumi spoke about the indivisibility of the security of the two regions and the need for cooperation.

NATO and the IP4 agreed to strengthen cooperation through concrete collaboration in defense industry cooperation, cyber issues, strategic communications, and technology.

Secretary General Rutte once again expressed his appreciation for the support provided to Ukraine by the IP4 countries, including Japan.

The participants had a candid exchange of views on the international situation, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine, issues concerning China, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, including responses to North Korea, and the situation in Iran.

The meeting took place for approximately 30 minutes from 3:40 p.m. local time (9:40 p.m. Japan time). NATO Secretary General Rutte, President Lee Jae-myung and Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back from South Korea, Minister for Defense Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Countries Pat Conroy from Australia, and Minister of Defence Chris Penk from New Zealand attended.

The specific areas of cooperation identified were defense industry cooperation, cyber issues, strategic communications, and technology.