BERLIN – Germany is ready to bolster security cooperation with Japan and sees the signing of a new bilateral defense agreement, potentially in procurement, as a possibility, its defense chief has said ahead of his visit to Japan.
In a written interview with Kyodo News, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius underscored his country’s increasing commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, revealing plans for the German Air Force’s largest deployment to the region to take part in a multinational military exercise in Australia.
Germany and Japan have already been deepening their security cooperation in recent years and Pistorius described ACSA, a logistics agreement signed in 2024, “a milestone” in bilateral relations.
Asked if Germany and Japan could sign some kind of new security agreement in the future, Pistorius said, “That is certainly possible,” noting that Japan has made “additional efforts” in recent years in security policy and defense procurement.
“We are open to further cooperation and look forward to taking the next steps with Japan,” said Pistorius, who has been German defense chief since 2023.
The acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, simplifies the process of sharing food, fuel and ammunition between the German military and the Self-Defense Forces.
The German minister’s comments came ahead of his visit to Japan from Saturday and a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at an SDF base in Yokosuka, his hometown near Tokyo.
Pistorius said he and Koizumi will discuss intensively the situation in the Middle East during their talks.
“Germany is prepared to engage diplomatically. However, we will not participate militarily in the war,” he said, expressing concern about the escalating situation in the Persian Gulf.
On the situation in the Taiwan Strait, where China is increasing military pressure, he said freedom of navigation and trade routes also applies to the strait. China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary
“We are committed to de-escalation,” Pistorius said. “Further military tensions in the region would ultimately affect our interests — especially for a trading nation like Germany, and those of Europeans.”
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, along with North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Moscow, have raised concerns among Japanese officials about the broader implications for the Indo-Pacific where China is expanding its economic and military influence.
For the upcoming Pitch Black military exercise in Australia in July, Germany will send nine Eurofighters as well as several aerial refueling and transport aircraft in the largest German Air Force deployment to the region since its dispatch to the Indo-Pacific began in 2021, according to Pistorius.
He also said around 100 German soldiers are expected to participate in the Keen Sword joint exercise to be held in Japan in October.
AloJapan.com