Kishida to leave for US to attend NATO summit | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is set to leave for the United State on Wednesday to attend the NATO summit.

Four NATO partners in the Indo-Pacific — Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand — are scheduled to join the gathering in Washington.

The four nations are expected to confirm they will expand cooperation with NATO in responding to threats from cyberattacks and disinformation, among other areas.

They are also considering holding separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden.

Kishida plans to reaffirm that Japan will continue to support Ukraine.

He also hopes that stronger ties with NATO and other countries will lead to peace and stability in East Asia, including Japan, recognizing that the security of Europe and Asia is inseparable in light of moves by Russia and China.

Kishida is scheduled to travel to Germany for summit talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz after visiting the US.

Arrangements are being made to set up a new cooperation framework in economic security, including the establishment of supply chains for key minerals.