EXCLUSIVE: Takaichi to Attend NATO Summit in Ankara

Tokyo, June 11 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to visit Ankara from July 6 to 8 to attend a NATO summit for the first time since taking office last year, Jiji Press learned Thursday. Takaichi aims to confirm with NATO that the security of the Indo-Pacific region and that of Europe are inseparable, seeking greater NATO involvement in Asia amid China’s growing military pressure, informed sources said. Japan, along with South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, has developed cooperative ties with NATO. Within NATO, meanwhile, a rift between the United States and European members is deepening over U.S. strikes on Iran, as well as their responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of his country withdrawing from the organization. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]