To extend its reach into the Asia-Pacific, NATO is provocatively planning to open up a liaison office in Tokyo next year, purportedly for the purpose of coordinating with its “close partners” across the Indo-Pacific—Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, according to Nikkei Asia, as reported by The Guardian. This is the first office of its kind in Asia, which NATO says will allow Japan and NATO to upgrade their cooperation in such areas as cyberthreats, “disinformation,” and disruptive technologies.
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told The Guardian that NATO and Japan “share the same values, interests and concerns, including supporting Ukraine and addressing the security challenges posed by authoritarian regimes, and our partnership is getting stronger.” Nikkei Asia reports that NATO has already circulated a draft proposal among its 31 members regarding the opening of the one-man office, which was first discussed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in January. Japan and NATO intend to sign an Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP) prior to the July NATO summit in Lithuania.
