NATO chief visits Maritime Self-Defense Force base near Tokyo

NATO’s chief visited a Maritime Self-Defense Force base south of Tokyo on Tuesday, where he stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with Japan and other Indo-Pacific nations, with China in mind.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte boarded a state-of-the-art frigate, and inspected defense equipment used for minesweeping at the Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

After touring the facilities, he expressed wariness about China, noting that the country is supporting the Russian war effort, and rapidly building up its armed forces, including its navy. Rutte said, “We cannot be naive.”

He also stressed the importance of NATO’s cooperation with countries, including Japan, noting this also “has to do with the role China is playing.” He added that it is necessary to work together and assess what is happening.

Rutte is on a two-day visit to Japan. He is scheduled to give a speech at a university in Tokyo and meet Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Wednesday.