Japan to step up defence and economic ties with Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida pose for the cameras during a Japan-Italy bilateral meeting at Japan’s prime minister office in Tokyo on Monday (Rodrigo Reyes Marin, Pool via AP)

The leaders of Japan and Italy said on Monday they will bolster their co-operation in security and defence, including their joint next-generation fighter jet development with the UK, as Tokyo welcomed the European nation’s shift toward playing a greater role in the Indo-Pacific.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, after meeting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, welcomed Italy’s move to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where several visits by Italy’s warships, including its strike group, and joint exercises are planned this year.