EU Pursues Defence Partnerships with Japan and South Korea

The European Union is seeking to establish security and defence industry partnerships with Japan and South Korea, aiming for joint development of military equipment. This marks the first time the EU has sought such collaborations with Asian nations, according to a report by the Nikkei, which cited a senior EU commission official without revealing their identity.

The EU hopes to finalize a ministerial-level agreement with Japan by the end of the year, potentially enabling EU funding for joint projects managed by both Japanese and European companies.

Representatives from Japan's foreign ministry and the South Korean and EU delegations in Tokyo were not immediately available for comments on the report.

Japan, despite its constitution that renounces war, acknowledges facing its "most severe and complex security environment since World War Two." In response, it has significantly expanded its defence industry in recent years. Last year, Japan signed a treaty with Britain and Italy to develop an advanced fighter jet. This month, Japan initiated talks with the United States to enhance defence industry collaboration under the U.S.-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment, established in April by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden.

So far, Japan-U.S. discussions have concentrated on naval repairs in Japan, which could allow U.S. shipyards to focus on building more warships. Future cooperation may include aircraft repairs, missile production, and bolstering military supply-chain resilience.

Tokyo's actions are driven by the need to counter China’s growing maritime assertiveness and concerns over potential instability in the Taiwan Strait. Consequently, Japan has sought deeper defence cooperation with the United States and the Philippines, and recently conducted a maritime exercise with the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines in the South China Sea, where China's expansive territorial claims conflict with those of several Asian nations.

Why This Matters: The EU's move to establish defence partnerships with Japan and South Korea signifies a strategic shift in global security alliances, highlighting the increasing importance of Asian nations in addressing regional and global security threats.

Key Takeaways

• The EU aims to establish its first security and defence partnerships with Japan and South Korea.
• Japan seeks to enhance its defence industry amid regional security threats.
• Japan and the U.S. are discussing deeper defence collaboration.
• Japan's actions are partly motivated by China's maritime assertiveness.
• Recent joint military exercises involved Japan, the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines in the South China Sea.