NATO's Engagement in the Indo-Pacific: Tokyo's Perceptions and Expectations*

Abstract

The war in Ukraine has raised concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Japan. Tokyo's December 2022 National Security Strategy states that Russia's aggression has “breached the very foundation of the rules that shape the international order” and warns that a similar situation could happen in the Indo-Pacific. The level of connectivity between the European and Asian security theaters seems to be rising, bringing NATO and Japan closer in strategic terms. NATO has increased its engagement in the Indo-Pacific and is becoming more concerned about China's assertive activities in the region and beyond. Yet, there does not seem to be a consensus within the Alliance on what it should do in the Indo-Pacific region. In the meantime, Japan is focusing more on practical cooperation with individual European countries, first and foremost the United Kingdom, for joint training and exercises and defense equipment cooperation.