15 May 2026 13:35 UTC · NATO · NATO News · Source · Email X Link

NATO says it deepens defence industrial cooperation with Korea and Japan

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Chaired NATO-Korea and NATO-Japan defence industrial dialogues
Prioritised interoperability, co-development, supply chain security and innovation

TL;DR

Tarja Jaakkola visited the Republic of Korea and Japan (11–15 May 2026) for discussions to strengthen NATO’s defence industrial cooperation.
Jaakkola chaired the 2nd NATO-Korea and NATO-Japan Defence Industrial Cooperation and Capabilities Dialogues with Takizawa Go (ATLA) and Hatada Hiroyuko (METI).
NATO and partners prioritised interoperability through co-development, co-production, joint acquisition and common standards, and discussed space, supply chain security, defence-critical raw materials and innovation.
Meetings included defence industry representatives, a meeting with Lee Yong Chen (DAPA), and sessions with students at Yonsei University and the University of Tokyo; NATO noted the upcoming Defence Industry Forum on 7 July 2026 in Ankara.

Original text

Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 15 May 2026 1 MIN READ ASG Tarja Jaakkola held the 2nd NATO-Japan Defence Industrial Cooperation and Capabilities Dialogue co-chaired with Mr Takizawa Go, Deputy Commissioner of ATLA, and Mr Hatada Hiroyuko, Deputy Director-General of METI. Assistant Secretary General for Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, Tarja Jaakkola, visited the Republic of Korea and Japan (11-15 May 2026) for discussions to strengthen NATO’s defence industrial cooperation. “We are working with our partners, the Republic of Korea and Japan, to bring them closer to NATO in order to build a stronger defence industrial base,” said the Assistant Secretary General. “For a robust deterrence and defence posture, we need a robust defence industrial base across the Alliance that cooperates closely with our partners. We benefit greatly from close defence industrial cooperation with highly capable and world-class defence producers from Korea and Japan.” During her visit, Ms Jaakkola chaired the second NATO-Korea and NATO-Japan Defence Industrial Cooperation and Capabilities Dialogues, where NATO and its partners identified shared interests and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation. A key priority in NATO’s cooperation is to increase the interoperability of defence capabilities through co-development, co-production, joint acquisition and the use of common standards. NATO and its partners exchanged views on further practical cooperation including multilateral projects in the areas of space, supply chain security and collaboration in defence-critical raw materials and innovation. ASG Tarja Jaakkola meeting with Mr Lee Yong Chen, DAPA Minister (Credit: DAPA) The visit also included meetings with defence industry representatives in both countries. “We need the best capabilities, at scale and at pace, and we need to incorporate the latest technology. What the innovators are working on can help to keep the Indo-Pacific safe and contribute to geopolitical stability,” emphasised the Assistant Secretary General. The meetings in Seoul and Tokyo also provided an opportunity to discuss the upcoming NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum 2026, which will take place on 7 July 2026 on the margins of the NATO Summit 2026 in Ankara. In addition, Ms Jaakkola met with students at Yonsei University and the University of Tokyo to discuss NATO’s role, its priorities, and the current security environment. Link was copied to clipboard

NATO says it deepens defence industrial cooperation with Korea and Japan

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