Japan PM Kishida leaves for US to attend NATO summit | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Wednesday left for the United States to attend the NATO summit.

Kishida is scheduled to visit the United States and Germany during his five-day trip. He will also hold talks with leaders of various countries on the sidelines of the summit.

Ahead of his departure, Kishida told reporters that he wants to confirm with leaders of NATO member countries that the security of the Euro-Atlantic region and that of the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable. He said he also wants to confirm sustainable cooperation between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners including Japan.

Kishida also unveiled his plans to meet newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and, separately, leaders of South Korea, the Netherlands and Finland.
Kishida said he will attend a four-way summit of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Referring to his visit to Germany for summit talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Kishida expressed hope to agree to promote security cooperation and discuss strengthening economic ties, covering the economic security area.