The Japanese and German governments are coordinating to hold the first 2+2 meeting between Japanese and German foreign ministers and defense ministers by videoconference as early as next week to discuss strengthening cooperation in the field of maritime security with China in mind, Kyodo News quoted several Japanese government sources as saying on April 5.
The report said that Germany announced comprehensive guidelines for foreign security and economic policy in the Pacific region last year, and that Japan and Germany aim to strengthen cooperation in the field of maritime security with China in mind.
At the German-Japanese 2+2 meeting, the two sides are expected to exchange views on the situation in the East and South China Seas and North Korea. Japan will seek cooperation based on the commonalities between the German guidelines and the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” concept, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimichi Mogi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi are scheduled to attend.
Japan and Germany signed an “Information Protection Agreement” last month to provide confidential information to each other in the security field, and the German Navy plans to send frigates to the Indo-Pacific region as soon as this year, so the meeting may mention the defense exchange at that time.
The 2+2 meeting is a mechanism for the heads of the two countries’ foreign affairs and defense departments to consult on security policies. Japan has held ministerial meetings with Australia, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and India, led by its ally, the United States.
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