EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) shake hands following a signing ceremony at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on November 1, 2024 (AFP)

Japan and the European Union unveiled a major new security and defense partnership on Friday in Tokyo, a move hailed as historic and "very timely" by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

In partnership with Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Borrell outlined a comprehensive framework to strengthen military cooperation, space security, and defense industry information exchange.

"This is the first agreement of this nature the EU has made with an Asia-Pacific country," Borrell stated, calling the partnership a "historic" step forward.

Highlighting the increasing geopolitical risks both regions face, he remarked that "we live in a very dangerous world," referencing the growing need for political and defense coordination.

Targeting China?

Though not directly naming China, the partnership is said to address security concerns amid Tokyo's recent designation of Beijing as its largest strategic challenge.

Under the new partnership, the EU and Japan will pursue "concrete naval cooperation," including joint exercises and port calls that could potentially involve other allied countries.

The agreement marks a significant shift for Japan, which is now seeking stronger defense ties within the region and has plans to increase its defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, aligning with NATO's standard.

Japan's defense spending is said to counter China's increasing military influence in the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring the self-ruled island back under its control.

Diversifying hardware

Japan's increased defense engagement includes co-developing a new fighter jet with Italy and the UK, planned to be operational by 2035.

Analysts suggest that this EU-Japan partnership could accelerate joint defense projects and open new opportunities for Tokyo's defense industry, which has traditionally relied heavily on US hardware.

Borrell's Tokyo visit comes ahead of his planned discussions in South Korea, where the DPRK's missile tests and allegations of involvement in Ukraine are high on the agenda.

The DPRK recently test-fired a new long-range missile, signaling its reach toward the US, days before the US midterm elections.

Japan-EU SPA formalized

In a parallel development, Borrell and Iwaya also ratified the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), which will take effect on January 1.

This agreement will serve as the legal foundation for a deeper Japan-EU alliance, which could see Japan playing a more prominent role in the region's collective security efforts, echoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's call for a NATO-like regional alliance.