Deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence meet with Japanese counterparts to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership

March 9, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Marta Morgan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Bill Matthews, Deputy Minister of National Defence, today met with their Japanese counterparts, Yamada Shigeo, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Tsuchimichi Akihiro, Vice Minister of Defense for International Affairs, in the fifth Canada-Japan Political, Peace and Security Subcabinet 2+2 Dialogue, hosted virtually by Canada.

In deepening their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, both sides discussed their diplomatic and security policies to advance Canada-Japan cooperation, including through advancing concrete efforts under the six Canada-Japan shared priorities contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two sides discussed ways of enhancing cooperation on a range of security challenges, including Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, coercive actions in the East and South China seas and collective efforts to uphold the rules-based international order. The Deputy Ministers also discussed the need to continue efforts aimed at addressing North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, particularly by countering the use of ship-to-ship transfers to evade maritime sanctions. They also shared perspectives on ongoing efforts in response to events in Myanmar and Afghanistan.

Finally, the two sides discussed additional opportunities to promote mutual defence and security interests through a shared strategic outlook, the advancement of joint exercises and deeper security cooperation and the development of an action plan for Canada-Japan cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Associated links

• Canada-Japan relations
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio
• Minister Joly speaks with Hayashi Yoshimasa, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Minister Garneau and Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi expand Indo-Pacific cooperation

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