Prime Minister Šimonytė met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: Security and stability in the world will be fragile if concern for them is limited to the immediate neighbourhood

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting Lithuania. The parties focused on bilateral relations between Lithuania and Japan, support for Ukraine, and the security situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

“Last year, we upgraded the bilateral relations between Lithuania and Japan to a strategic partnership, a natural step for countries that believe in the importance of the same principles, first and foremost – an international order based on rules rather than the politics of force and coercion. Lithuania is well aware that security and stability in the world will be fragile, if our concern for their promotion is limited to our immediate neighbourhood. Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and its multi-layered consequences demonstrate that Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are interconnected,” said Prime Minister Šimonytė.

As the Prime Minister noted at the meeting, we want to continue to promote Lithuanian-Japanese cooperation in the fields of security and defence, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance collaboration in the high-tech sectors. Additionally, we seek to foster mutual understanding of cultures and strengthen business relations. Every effort is being made to ensure that the strategic partnership will be implemented in practice.

In May this year, the Government approved the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Lithuania-Japan Strategic Partnership 2023-2025, involving a wide range of government agencies and companies. Japan is also viewed as a key partner in Lithuania’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the adoption of this strategy was welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida during the meeting

Prospects for broader bilateral as well as NATO-Japan cooperation were discussed.

The parties emphasized that we are at a turning point in history, and the outcome of Russia’s war against Ukraine will determine the sustainability of security in other regions. Consequently, support for Ukraine by democracies is vital in deterring potential aggressors.

The Heads of Government of Lithuania and Japan also highlighted the relevance of supportting Ukraine’s reconstruction, an area where the two countries could cooperate as well.

During the meeting, the Prime Ministers discussed recent developments in Russia and Belarus, which are increasing the risks of instability. They also touched upon Russia's irresponsible and dangerous nuclear rhetoric, the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, challenges posed by China, issues related to unacceptable economic coercion, and the ballistic missile tests conducted by North Korea, which threaten global peace and stability in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

According to the Lithuanian Prime Minister, closer cooperation among democracies is essential for maintaining and strengthening international security and stability, as well as upholding the rules-based world order.

Photo by Žygimantas Gedvila / ELTA.