INTERVIEW: German Envoy Hopeful of Japan Joining Eurodrone Project

By Masaru Urano Tokyo, June 14 (Jiji Press)–German Ambassador to Japan Petra Sigmund has expressed strong expectations for Japan’s possible participation in a European military drone development program as part of their defense cooperation. “We have reached out to Japanese partners to see whether Japan would be willing to join this important project, and we see great interest,” Sigmund said in an interview with Jiji Press in Tokyo on Thursday. “We welcome Japan’s increased interest in further deepening its involvement.” Such a move would upgrade Japan’s involvement in the development of the so-called Eurodrone unmanned combat aircraft from its current position as an observer. In addition to Germany, the Eurodrone project includes such countries as Italy and Spain. India is also an observer. The ambassador emphasized the need to “pool capacities and resources, possibly cut time and strengthen interoperability” of drone and other defense systems between Japan and Germany, adding that security in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific are “more and more interconnected.” “We have learned a lot…through our support of Ukraine,” she said. “We see…what kinds of defensive systems are needed (in modern warfare).” On the recent decision by Germany and France to scrap a joint project to develop a next-generation fighter jet, Sigmund said that Berlin is considering multiple options, one of them including Japan. The ambassador called Japan a “very strong actor” in defense and security policy, especially after Tokyo revised in April its three principles on defense equipment transfers, paving the way for exports of lethal equipment such as fighter jets and destroyers. “Our priority is for Germany and Japan to strengthen our own defense capabilities and deterrence,” she said. Sigmund expressed eagerness for a reciprocal access agreement between Japan and Germany to facilitate mutual visits between the armed forces of the two countries, noting that an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement for sharing logistical support has made it easier for Germany to conduct complex training missions in Japan. “Joint exercises…have proved to be very valuable for us to understand Indo-Pacific security and the security concerns of Japan,” she said. Regarding other areas of Japanese-German cooperation, she said the two countries are looking at working together to reduce dependence on China for rare earths. She referred to possible avenues of collaboration, such as refining the minerals outside China, boosting the recycling of rare earths found in goods such as solar panels and batteries, and innovation to reduce the use of the minerals. The ambassador criticized Beijing’s export curbs on rare earths and other military-civilian dual-use goods, saying: “We do not recognize this as a legitimate means. Economic coercion is not a solution.” She supported Tokyo’s willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve the situation. Sigmund described Japan as like a “neighbor” to Germany, saying that the two countries have similar views on international affairs and mutual trust. “We want to treat it as (a neighbor) with very, very good access to the European Union and to Germany, (and) make all the thresholds as low as possible to cooperate.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]