ISTANBUL (Turkiye Khabar) – Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is expected to visit Türkiye in early July, where he will participate in events related to the NATO summit and hold meetings with his defence counterparts.
According to international sources, the visit is expected to take place during the NATO meeting scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, with the aim of further strengthening growing security cooperation between Japan and NATO, despite Japan not being a member of the alliance.
Reports indicate that the Japanese Defence Minister will attend various NATO-related sessions and hold bilateral meetings with defence ministers from member countries on the sidelines of the summit, focusing on regional security and defence cooperation.
The discussions are expected to cover key areas including cyber defence, maritime security, emerging technologies, and support for Ukraine.
In recent years, cooperation between Japan and NATO has steadily increased, with both sides viewing security developments in Europe and the Indo-Pacific as interconnected.
In 2025, Japan further formalized its diplomatic engagement with NATO by establishing a dedicated diplomatic mission, which has expanded both political dialogue and practical security cooperation.
The upcoming Ankara NATO summit will provide an opportunity for member states and partners to discuss global security challenges, defence spending, and strategic concerns.