Japan’s Takaichi and Italy’s Meloni Seek Stronger Security and Trade Links

Japan and Italy’s leaders agreed to speed up security collaboration, including an arrangement to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, noting that Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are closely linked.

During their first face-to-face meeting in Tokyo on Friday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, agreed to enhance cooperation on the development of a next-generation fighter jet with the United Kingdom and exchanged views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and on China.

They agreed to continue working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific and to bring about a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

In a joint statement, they also announced that Japan-Italy relations would be upgraded to a “Special Strategic Partnership.”

At a joint press conference after the talks, Kishida said, “Given the increasingly severe strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region, close cooperation among like-minded countries has become more important than ever for the peace and prosperity of both our countries and the region.”

Meloni expressed hope for peace based on freedom and a rules-based order.

Japan and Italy also announced that they would establish a space consultation panel to promote the peaceful use of outer space and would enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Both leaders, both conservative female politicians, are keen to build a relationship based on trust, and Takaichi also invited current female members of her cabinet—Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda—to attend the meeting.

The Italian Prime Minister said at a joint press conference that the two leaders share similar views, and she addressed Takaichi by her first name, a sign of their growing closeness.

Noting that she and Takaichi are the first female prime ministers of their respective countries, Meloni said that serving in this position is a great honor, but it also comes with great responsibilities.

Posting a photo of the two leaders on X (formerly Twitter), Meloni said that despite the geographical distance between their two countries, they have grown closer. The Italian Prime Minister’s visit to Japan was the first by a leader of the country since February 2024.