Germany and Japan deepen cooperation on technology and security
Friedrich Merz and Sanae Takaichi issued statements in Tokyo after their talks on bilateral relations, advanced technology and economic security.
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Germany and Japan want to expand their strategic cooperation. During Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Tokyo, the two governments reached agreements on advanced technology and economic security.
Merz spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday during his visit to Japan as chancellor. After the talks, the governments published a joint statement on bilateral relations and separate statements on advanced technology and economic security.
The governments frame the agreements in terms of international cooperation and stability. In their statements, Germany and Japan stress that they want to strengthen cooperation between like-minded countries and support international rules and stability. The governments presented the relationship as a strategic partnership, but did not announce a new defence treaty in the public documents.
Technology is an important part of the new agenda. According to the Japanese government, Germany and Japan want to cooperate more closely in advanced technology. The German government linked this to investment, industrial cooperation and the development of key technologies. The amounts, projects and timetables the governments attach to the cooperation will be important for its implementation.
Economic security was also central. The governments published a separate statement on this. A statement on cooperation does not in itself mean that a fully developed joint industrial policy is in place.
Merz visited Japan as part of a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea. According to the German government, he wants to use the trip to deepen economic and security cooperation with important partners in the Indo-Pacific. This is relevant to the European Union because Germany conducts a large part of its foreign economic and political relations through European rules and institutions.
The statements point to a political ambition: Berlin and Tokyo want to broaden their ties from trade to technology and economic resilience. The practical significance will depend on follow-up talks, project funding and how the agreements relate to European policy on technology, trade and security.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Germany and Japan held a summit meeting in Tokyo on 28 October.
- The governments published statements on their relationship, advanced technology and economic security.
- The public documents contain no detailed amounts or complete implementation agenda.
Left
Arguments Closer cooperation can be useful if it strengthens public oversight, labour rights, privacy and international agreements on technology. Economic security must not turn into protectionism or a new arms race.
Values International rules, human control over technology, social justice and multilateralism.
Consequences The emphasis is on preventing the concentration of power among companies and states and on the potential costs of strategic decoupling.
Centre
Arguments Germany and Japan can reduce their vulnerable supply chains while keeping trade open. This requires concrete agreements, measurable targets and coordination with the European Union.
Values Stability, predictability, feasibility and institutional cooperation.
Consequences The benefits will only materialise if the political statements are translated into joint projects, standards and investment.
Right
Arguments In a more dangerous world, democratic countries must be able to protect their technological and industrial base themselves. Closer ties with Japan could reduce dependence on authoritarian powers.
Values National security, economic resilience, competitiveness and sovereignty.
Consequences The emphasis is on investing more quickly and reducing dependence, even if that entails higher costs or more hard-edged trade choices.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based directly on official statements from Japan and Germany dated 28 October. Interpretations of the implications for Europe and implementation are presented as analysis.
- confirmed Merz and Takaichi spoke to each other in Tokyo on 28 October. — This is stated in the Japanese government statement. source
- confirmed Statements were issued on bilateral relations, advanced technology and economic security. — The Japanese and German governments refer to these three documents. source
- confirmed The public statements do not mention a new defence treaty. — No defence treaty is mentioned in the statements consulted. source
- confirmed Merz also travelled to Singapore and South Korea. — The German federal government describes the multi-day trip through these countries. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the leaders spoke on 28 October and published three joint documents. The public statements contain no concrete projects, amounts or implementation dates.Sources
- Japan-Germany Summit Meeting and Working Dinner — Japanse ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
- Bundeskanzler Merz beim German-Japanese Business Summit — Duitse federale regering
- Pressestatement des Bundeskanzlers und Japans Ministerpräsidentin Takaichi — Duitse federale regering
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „duitsland japan”
- Trouw — „duitsland japan”
- NRC — „duitsland japan”