German-Japanese Video Teleconference on Defence

Federal Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spoke with her Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi today and congratulated him on his recent appointment. Both ministers reaffirmed their intention to continue the close cooperation between their armed forces.

Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer presented in depth the Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific and expressed Germany’s interest in a closer security cooperation with the countries in the region. Minister Kishi underlined the importance of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. The two ministers exchanged views on regional security, including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They concurred on the importance of a rules-based multilateral order, including a free and open maritime order, and both see potential in supra-regional cooperation between the European Union and ASEANAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations.

Minister Kishi proposed that cohesive action be taken against risks posed by infectious diseases that could affect peace and security, and suggested, in agreement with Minister
Kramp-Karrenbauer, that the following efforts be promoted between the two countries:

• sharing lessons learned in the HA/DR operations conducted during the COVID-19Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic,
• finding new ways of cooperating in third countries in order to make them more resilient to the pandemic,
• exchanging views with like-minded countries on activities such as propaganda efforts by third parties that aim at changing international and regional orders to suit their preference.

Both ministers reaffirmed that they would maintain close communication. Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer expressed confidence that the Classification Agreement would soon be finalised, which will allow closer cooperation on cyber defence and armaments. Moreover, she said she was looking forward to visiting Japan in 2021 in person, if pandemic conditions allow.