Japan and Belgium defense ministers agree to deepen security ties

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Belgian counterpart, Theo Francken, agreed to deepen security cooperation between their countries during a meeting in Tokyo on Monday.

Koizumi welcomed Belgium’s first assignment of a defense attache to its embassy in Tokyo, describing the move as highly significant as security in the Euro-Atlantic region and that of the Indo-Pacific region are becoming increasingly inseparable.

The two ministers exchanged views on regional developments and confirmed cooperation to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Francken, who also serves as Belgium’s trade minister, expressed his eagerness to strengthen defense industry cooperation with Japan.