Tokyo Seeks To Hold Talks With Regional Partners On Fringes Of NATO Summit

Japan eyes talks with the U.S. and South Korea on the sidelines of the upcoming NATO summit to be held in Madrid on June 28 - 30, Japanese state broadcaster NHK reports, in addition to planned talks with other attendees from the Asia-Pacific.

• Local press earlier reported that PM Kishida wants to use this opportunity to hold a four-way summit with his counterparts from South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to discuss the concept of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" amid China's growing assertiveness in the region.
• Although the four Asia-Pacific nations are not NATO members, their leaders have been invited to the Madrid summit as the alliance seeks to boost cooperation with regional partners. Their representatives took part in the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence session and NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting earlier this year.
• South Korea confirmed receiving Japan's invitation and said the presidential office is reviewing the offer. Seoul's relationship with Tokyo remains difficult amid continued spats over historical matters. But the two nations are now looking to set up a consultation group as a platform for discussing divisive issues related to wartime labour.
• NHK reported that "officials suggested it is possible that those three-way and four-way talks will be combined into a five-way summit."