Merz in Tokyo: Germany and Japan move closer on raw materials, AI and defense
Chancellor Merz and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi signed declarations on economic security and critical raw materials. The two sides will even explore building fighter jets together.
Archive image · Photo: 内閣広報室 / Cabinet Public Affairs Office / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed in Tokyo on Wednesday to deepen cooperation. The two governments signed one declaration on economic security and another on critical raw materials. The aim is to reduce one-sided dependencies, according to the German government. "Japan and Germany are neighbors," Merz said, despite the great geographic distance.
The two countries also plan closer cooperation on security and defense. A feasibility review is to determine whether joint work on fighter aircraft is possible. More than 100 German soldiers took part in the Keen Sword exercise. "Our deployment is in no way aggressive," Merz stressed, adding with a view to Beijing that Germany would stick to its One China policy.
A permanent dialogue on artificial intelligence will be set up, and exchanges on semiconductors, 6G and fusion energy are to expand. More than 20 further agreements were also concluded, according to Merz. Takaichi is due in Berlin for government consultations in 2027, and Japan will be the partner country of the 2028 Hannover Messe.