Japan-Belgium Defense Ministers’ Meeting
Overview
On August 31, 2026, Defense Minister Koizumi and Theo Francken, Minister of Defense and Minister in charge of Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Belgium, met in Tokyo and confirmed the deepening of defense cooperation and exchanges and their shared security perspectives. The two ministers shared the view that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is indivisible, opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, and agreed to cooperate toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Key points
- The Japan-Belgium defense ministers’ meeting was held in Tokyo.
- The ministers agreed to further deepen Japan-Belgium defense cooperation and exchanges.
- They shared the view that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is indivisible.
- They confirmed their opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and their commitment to cooperate toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Overview
On August 31, 2026, Defense Minister Koizumi and Theo Francken, Minister of Defense and Minister in charge of Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Belgium, held the Japan-Belgium defense ministers’ meeting in Tokyo. At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Koizumi congratulated Belgium on the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship this year and the arrival of Belgium’s first defense attaché assigned to Tokyo, while welcoming the Belgian defense minister on his first visit to Japan.
The two ministers shared the view that the meeting was an important opportunity for the further development of Japan-Belgium defense cooperation.
Impact
The two countries confirmed that they will continue to work closely together to further deepen defense cooperation and exchanges.
They confirmed that Japan and Belgium will cooperate toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Details
During the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on Japan-Belgium defense cooperation and exchanges and regional affairs. Based on their recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is indivisible, the two ministers confirmed their policies for future cooperation.
Regarding regional affairs, they agreed to oppose attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion and to cooperate toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law.