Takaichi-Meloni summit signals new era, stronger ties

In today’s turbulent world, two Group of Seven leaders are redefining security: Japan’s Sanae Takaichi and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni.

From the end of World War II until recently, both countries largely delegated their defense to the United States: Japan relied on the U.S. umbrella to project power and counter China while Italy, as a NATO member and one of its founding countries, was a strong U.S. ally, with Washington serving as the main provider of NATO security.

That era is over. In this context, Prime Minister Takaichi’s upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Meloni during her official visit to Japan, scheduled for later this month, is not only a ceremonial event marking the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations, but also a strategic effort to strengthen bilateral ties and explore greater autonomy in security cooperation.