The European Union (EU) may seek security and defence partnerships with Japan and South Korea, paving the way for wider joint development projects in the defence industry, Nikkei Asia reported.
“We hope to develop partnerships with Japan and South Korea to work more closely together,” a senior European Commission official told Nikkei, adding that the security environment in Europe and Asia has changed dramatically.
Brussels is aiming for a ministerial-level agreement with Japan by the end of the year.
Brussels also has security and defence partnerships with non-EU countries such as Norway. Establishing a similar partnership with an Asian country would be a first.
Japan and the EU share common challenges such as relatively small national defence industries, high R&D and production costs, and dependence on US contractors.
There is also a proposal to increase opportunities for Japanese companies to participate in EU-led defence R&D programmes. The EU could provide funding for projects between Japanese and European companies.
Working with European companies could provide Japan with opportunities to develop defence technology, reduce costs and expand hardware sales channels.
For the EU, the partnership would provide a basis for defence industrial cooperation with Japan, offer opportunities for joint equipment development and increase supply options.
Meanwhile, South Korea is also increasing its arms exports to Europe. Poland has placed large orders for South Korean K2 tanks and K9 howitzers. Romania, Finland and Estonia are also increasing their purchases of South Korean weapons.
The EU will also consider cooperation in areas such as space, cybersecurity, disinformation and maritime security. The Japan partnership plan also includes cooperation on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, an important issue in the election campaign of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
In the wake of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, the EU published its first defence industrial strategy in March, under which member states will work together to develop and increase arms production. Recognising the EU’s limitations on its own, the bloc is seeking to deepen ties with Japan, South Korea and other Western allies in the region.
In an interview with Nikkei in June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that security was one of the areas in which she wanted to improve Japan-EU relations. At a summit in July, the two sides agreed to launch a ministerial-level strategic dialogue on security.
