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Gabriel Dominguez
North Korean special forces soldiers march and shout slogans during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founding father, Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang in April 2017.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 22, 2024
North Korea aiding Russia where it needs it most, Canadian general says
Pyongyang's provision of troops as well as weapons and munitions that Moscow can't produce fast enough carries a symbolic element.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (right) and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Dec. 10 prior to talks on political, trade and economic relations
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2024
Finnish PM seeks boosted military tech ties with Japan
“Finland is keen to deepen bilateral relations, and Japan is an important strategic partner for Finland,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told The Japan Times.
Dutch air force F-35 fighter jets take part in drills with NATO countries in March 2023.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 18, 2024
Dutch eyeing F-35 Indo-Pacific deployment in 2026, Japan envoy says
Rising geopolitical tensions are driving the Netherlands to work “more closely than ever before” with Indo-Pacific countries, particularly Japan.
The flight deck of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during a stop at Changi Naval Base in Singapore in May 2019
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 17, 2024
With rare Asia carrier deployment, France seeks greater interoperability
“The Indo-Pacific is the world’s new center of gravity," Rear Adm. Guillaume Pinget told The Japan Times during a visit to Tokyo.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) shakes hands with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone during an ASEAN summit closing ceremony to hand over the grouping's chairmanship to Kuala Lumpur at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, in October.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2024
Lowering tensions key priority for incoming ASEAN chair Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur will reach out to key players including Japan to try and jointly tackle the critical security issues affecting Southeast Asia, Malaysian envoy says.
Attendees view a concept model of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) fighter plane at the BAE Systems pavilion at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, England, in July.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2024
Trilateral fighter project takes big step with joint venture deal
The U.K.-headquartered entity, to be set up by mid-2025, will be responsible for the industrial side of Japan, Britain and Italy's Global Combat Air Program.
A navy serviceman is reflected on a radar screen aboard the BRP Tarlac landing ship off the shore of Calayan Island, the Philippines, on June 30, 2023. Japan is providing another tranche of military aid to the Philippines that will include a grant for additional coastal surveillance radar systems, boats and other equipment.
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2024
Manila to get more radars and boats from Tokyo under new military aid tranche
The grant is intended to help strengthen the capabilities of the Philippines' navy and air force, the Foreign Ministry says.
Activated on Wednesday, U.S. Space Forces Japan — a component similar to the one established at South Korea’s Osan Air Base in 2022 — will operate out of Yokota Air Base in the city of Fussa, western Tokyo, with a staff of about 10.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Dec 4, 2024
U.S. Space Force launches first unit in Japan
The move is part of an effort to boost coordination and interoperability with its ally, including the Air Self-Defense Force’s own Space Operations Group
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson reviews an honor guard during a ceremony with his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, ahead of a bilateral meeting at the  Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 4, 2024
Sweden aims to deepen defense cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners
Stockholm plans to boost cooperation in defense policy dialogue and technology exchanges while boosting its military presence.
The Foreign Ministry has said that the next beneficiaries of Japan’s official security assistance framework are likely to be the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2024
Japan to offer ¥5 billion in military aid to four countries
The next beneficiaries of Japan’s official security assistance framework are likely to be the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti.
A serviceman with the Ukrainian Army's 24th mechanized brigade fires a machine gun during an exercise, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the country's Donetsk region on Friday.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 2, 2024
Europe eyes 'boots on the ground' in Ukraine as possible peace deal option
The troop presence is among security guarantees being considered as the possibility grows of a deal requiring Kyiv to cede territory to Moscow.
A Finnish soldier operates a towed 155 mm field gun during the Northern Forest land force exercise in Rovajarvi, Finland, in May 2023.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Dec 2, 2024
Ukraine war reinvigorating Finland’s fighting spirit
Instead of intimidating the Finns, Ukraine's conflict with Russia has had the opposite effect of reigniting their focus on national resilience.
The European Union is considering stationing the equivalent of a defense attache with its delegation in Tokyo — a first for Brussels in Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 28, 2024
EU considering stationing defense attache with Tokyo delegation
The adviser would provide military expertise within the EU delegation in Tokyo and interact with counterparts from the Self-Defense Forces, officials said.
A concept model of the Global Combat Air Program's fighter jet is displayed at the DSEI Japan defense show at Makuhari Messe in Chiba in March last year. Europe’s defense industry sees “very significant potential” to further deepen cooperation with Japanese firms in areas ranging from space tech to advanced electronics and unmanned weapons systems, a key lobbying group has said.
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2024
European defense industry sees ‘significant potential’ to work with Japan
The remarks by industry officials come after Tokyo and Brussels launched a new security and defense partnership earlier this month.
Ukrainian cadets hold lit candles as they stand in attention before the Motherland Monument during a commemoration ceremony marking the 1,000th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Kyiv on Nov. 19.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 26, 2024
For EU, North Korean troops add new dimension to war in Ukraine
Pyongyang's move and the return of Donald Trump to the White House are further complicating EU efforts to end the bloody conflict.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya shakes hands with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto at the signing of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement between Japan and Italy in Rome on Monday.
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2024
Japan and Italy to share fuel and ammo under new logistics deal
The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement will also enable the rapid mobilization of aid in case of emergencies and natural disasters.
U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher speaks to reporters shortly after the arrival of aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2024
U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Japan carrying navy’s ‘most capable fighter’
USS George Washington was accompanied by a squadron of state-of-the-art F-35C Lightning II fighters.
Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force take part in a joint military drill involving Japan, the United States, Britain and Australia at Narashino exercise field in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, in January 2023.
JAPAN
Nov 21, 2024
Japan hosts Five Eyes group meeting for first time
The move highlights the growing cooperation between Tokyo and its allies amid shared concerns about a rapidly deteriorating security environment.
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2024
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
The nations also reiterated their “unwavering commitment” to seeing the next-generation supersonic jet take to the sky by 2035.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky said that while North Korea’s provision to Russia of military equipment and troops is certainly worrisome, what’s “really a serious problem” is what Moscow is giving Pyongyang in return.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 19, 2024
Ukraine ambassador warns of Russian military tech transfers to North Korea
What Moscow is giving Pyongyang in exchange for its troops could have direct security implications for East Asia, Kyiv's envoy to Tokyo warns.

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Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?