Europe and Japan are in many ways ‘natural partners’. They share similar liberal-democratic values and political systems, as well as a strong stake in supporting the so-called liberal international order. While both parties are primarily focused on their respective geographical neighbourhoods, growing strategic ties between Japan and Europe (including NATO, the EU and some member states) are paving the way towards broader cooperation in coping with a more challenging international context. Tokyo faces an assertive posture by China in the East and South China Sea and uncertainty about Washington’s evolving position in East Asia. Against this backdrop, Japan has recently stepped up its security profile. In particular, Prime Minister Abe has put forward a vision for the Indo-Pacific that seeks to uphold the rules-based international order in that region as well as the principle of freedom of navigation. This conference, co-organised together with the Elcano Royal Institute, addressed Japan’s approach to a changing strategic landscape and the prospects for a security partnership between Europe and Japan.

Speakers included:Luis Simón, Director Brussels Office and Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute, Giovanni Grevi, Senior Fellow, European Policy Centre, Hajime Hayashi, Japanese Ambassador to Belgium and Representative to NATO, Hiroyasu Akutsu, Professor, Policy Simulation Division, National Institute for Defense Studies, Elena Atanassova-Cornelis, Professor, University of Antwerp, John Hemmings, Director of Asia Studies, Henry Jackson Society, Akiko Fukushima, Professor, Aoyama Gakuin University; Senior Fellow, Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Lisa Picheny, Coordinator relations with NATO's partners in the Asia-Pacific region (Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Mongolia), Steven Everts, Senior Advisor, European External Action Service.