EXCLUSIVE: Germany’s Merz to Pay 1st Visit to Japan in Late Oct.

Berlin, July 14 (Jiji Press)–German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is planning to pay his first visit to Japan in late October, sources familiar with Japan-Germany relations told Jiji Press on Tuesday. Merz is expected to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on defense industry cooperation, including drone development, and economic security amid China’s increasing influence, and seek to upgrade their countries’ relationship. The German leader plans to visit Singapore and Japan before attending the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, which will be held from Oct. 29 to 31. A German business delegation, including representatives from defense companies, will accompany Merz on the trip. A senior official from one of these companies told Jiji Press of plans to sign multiple contracts with the Japanese side. Merz and Takaichi are expected to discuss strengthening supply chains for critical minerals including rare earths to reduce reliance on China, addressing artificial intelligence-related safety issues and risks, and diversifying energy sources in response to the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. The two leaders are also expected to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Merz and Takaichi held their first in-person meeting in Johannesburg in November and have since held several phone meetings. Japan and Germany have been deepening their cooperation across various sectors, including through visits to Japan by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in March, Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and Bundesrat President Andreas Bovenschulte in May, and Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity Minister Alois Rainer in June. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]