Close cooperation between Tokyo and Brussels–sharing key strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region–forms a vital foundation for both sides to respond more effectively to global challenges.
According to a statement released by the European Council ahead of the 30th Japan-EU Summit in Tokyo, the summit underscores the growing importance of the bilateral partnership in today’s volatile geopolitical context.
The statement noted that leaders would engage in in-depth discussions on ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of security and defence, economic relations, and support for multilateralism. Tokyo and Brussels also share perspectives on global issues including the conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The EU regards Japan as its closest strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific. Their bilateral relationship reached a major milestone with the establishment of the Japan-EU security and defence partnership in November 2024–a move that leaders on both sides hailed as historic and timely. Japan's Nikkei Asia commented that this marked the first time the EU had formed a security and defence partnership with an Asian country.
Economic cooperation plays a dominant role in the Japan-EU strategic partnership. In 2024, bilateral trade surpassed 190 billion EUR. As global trade tensions have harmed the interests of both Japan and the EU, it is unsurprising that the two have drawn closer and prioritised economic collaboration. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which came into force in 2019, has opened major opportunities for trade cooperation by removing tariff barriers.
Shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific continue to bring Japan and the EU closer. Both aim to enhance cooperation to promote freedom, openness, democracy, and the rule of law in the region.
In 2021, the EU released its Indo-Pacific Strategy, underlining the region’s importance to the Union and expressing a desire to boost its influence and role there. Japan, as a major economy and influential voice in the Asia-Pacific, is considered an indispensable partner in implementing this strategy.
In 2016, the late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo introduced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision, which emphasised the promotion of peace and security in the region. Maritime security cooperation is one of the most promising areas in the Japan-EU relationship in the vast Indo-Pacific. In an analysis published on esthinktank.com, experts identified the Indo-Pacific as “the region that will determine the world’s future” and noted that Japan, along with the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, are countries in the region with which Brussels aims to strengthen ties.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions and global economic volatility could potentially hinder Japan-EU relations. Analysts suggest that the EU’s involvement in conflicts, whether directly or indirectly, places significant pressure on the bloc’s resources. Similarly, Japan may also need to allocate resources to meet commitments to other partners. A lack of resources could prevent both sides from achieving the desired outcomes in their cooperation.
Nevertheless, the positive developments in Japan-EU relations in recent times demonstrate a growing trust between the two sides. This not only enhances their collective strength in tackling global challenges but also elevates each party’s international standing.
