ISTANBUL 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that “the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable.”

Takaichi made the remarks during her first phone call with Rutte as the prime minister of Japan after being elected this October, amid deepening ties between Japan and NATO, according to a statement from Japan's Foreign Ministry.

Takaichi emphasized that “the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable and cooperation between Japan-NATO and NATO-IP4 (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea) is strategically important.”

For his part, Rutte "supported such views, and both leaders concurred on working together to elevate our cooperative relationship to new heights through concrete cooperation," the ministry said.

They also discussed the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Indo-Pacific, confirming that both sides will “continue to cooperate in addressing security challenges across regions.”

In 2023, Japan and NATO reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation in 16 areas, ranging from maritime security and outer space to cyberspace and disinformation.

In January this year, the Mission of Japan to NATO was officially launched in Brussels, separating its functions from the Japanese Embassy in Belgium.