Japan will for the first time send its military personnel to the headquarters of the NATO mission for supporting Ukraine, based in the German city of Wiesbaden. The country plans to send four military personnel. This was reported by UNN with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Japan and The Japan Times.
The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan have decided to dispatch four service members to the headquarters of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program, located in Germany,
As stated by the ministry, "this decision is a result of the proposal made last April by former Minister Nakatani to NATO Secretary General Rutte, expressing Japan's intention to continue preparations for participation in NSATU."
Coordination with NATO has now been completed, which prompted this announcement. This deployment will contribute to strengthening Japan's own defense capabilities by gaining experience acquired in Ukraine, particularly regarding the "new way of warfare." It will also deepen cooperation between Japan and NATO in the context of the indivisibility of security between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. The Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces of Japan will continue to develop security and defense cooperation between Japan and NATO,
As The Japan Times writes, Japan, which is already one of the largest donors to the NATO trust fund for Ukraine, supporting measures such as medical rehabilitation and demining in the country, is also considering participation in a number of other initiatives under the Alliance's auspices.
This includes the recently launched Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which allows allies and partners to fund the supply of US military equipment to Ukraine, as well as the "Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic" (DIANA) — NATO's flagship program in the field of emerging technologies. Discussions are also ongoing regarding joining "Starlift" — a NATO project in which member countries pool their satellite launch capabilities,
As a reminder,
Defense Minister Koizumi visited Japan Self-Defense Forces bases in Hokkaido and stated that amid Russia's intensifying military activities in the Far East, it is important to maintain a flawless defense system in Hokkaido.