EU and Japan Leaders' Meeting: Strengthening Strategic Alliance

The EU and Japan reaffirmed their close partnership at the 30th EU-Japan Summit held in Tokyo on July 23, 2025. The summit, attended by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President António Costa, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, focused on intensifying cooperation in various areas, including trade, economic security, innovation, green transition, and digitalization.

Over the past few years, trade between the EU and Japan has been on the rise. In 2024, the value of trade in goods and services between the two entities surpassed 190 billion euros. Between 2018 and 2024, bilateral trade in goods increased by approximately 20 percent, and exports of services grew by about 42 percent. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan, which entered into force in 2019, serves as the backbone of this trade relationship.

The new competitiveness alliance, announced at the summit, aims to build upon this strong foundation. Based on three strategic pillars—strengthening bilateral trade, focusing on economic security, and intensifying cooperation in innovation, green transition, and digitalization—the alliance seeks to further deepen the partnership between the EU and Japan.

The focus on economic security includes efforts to ensure reliable supply chains for critical raw materials, semiconductors, and batteries. This is a response to the changing global situation and aims to secure the mutual economic interests of both parties.

In the realm of innovation, green transition, and digitalization, cooperation will be further intensified within the framework of the "Green Alliance" established in 2021 and the "Digital Partnership" agreed in 2022. The Digital Partnership, launched in May 2022 and expanded in July 2023 through binding cooperation agreements, will help both parties navigate the digital age together, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

The exchange in the field of security and defense is also a key aspect of the new alliance. The EU and Japan have announced enhanced cooperation in this area, focusing on maritime security, cybersecurity, and hybrid threats. This cooperation will be further intensified within the framework of a security partnership.

The Japanese Defense Minister, Gen Nakatani, played a significant role in the security and defense cooperation between the EU and Japan. He was the first Japanese defense minister to officially visit Turkey to discuss closer military cooperation and defense industry collaboration, including talks about unmanned systems and drones.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Europe and Japan are close and trustworthy friends. She stated that the new competitiveness alliance will help both parties to face the challenges of the 21st century together, fostering a stronger and more prosperous partnership. The groundwork for a more intensive strategic cooperation between the EU and Japan was laid at the 29th EU-Japan Summit on July 13, 2023, in Brussels, paving the way for a brighter future for bilateral relations.

The EU-Japan Summit did not provide details on any new agreements or initiatives beyond the establishment of the new competitiveness alliance. However, both parties expressed their commitment to continuing their close cooperation in the years to come.