A ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

Stoltenberg held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday. They issued a joint statement emphasizing the need to further strengthen cooperation between Japan and NATO amid the changing strategic environment.

Given the severity of the international security environment and new security challenges, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in areas such as cyberspace, outer space, disinformation and strategic communications, and cutting edge science and technology. 

They pledged to enhance strategic coordination on Japan-NATO cooperation, utilizing appropriate frameworks, for the purpose of taking stock of the progress made so far and considering the way forward.