TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to attend a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization slated for late June in Spain, a move that would make him the first Japanese leader to take part in a gathering of the Western alliance, Kyodo News reported.
Kishida’s attendance at the June 29-30 event in Madrid is dependent on the domestic political situation leading up to a House of Councilors election likely to be held July 10, a government source said.
Government officials hope Kishida’s participation in the NATO summit would strengthen coordination with the United States and European countries in responding to Russia’s operation in Ukraine and possible contingencies over the Taiwan Strait.
Kishida plans to travel to the Spanish capital after attending a three-day summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations from June 26 in Germany, according to the source.
Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have also been invited to attend the NATO summit as partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
There are, however, mixed views in the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over Kishida’s participation as the NATO summit’s schedule clashes with the expected kickoff on June 22 of official campaigning for the Japanese upper house election.
Some government officials think the premier’s summit diplomacy with Western and Indo-Pacific leaders helps boost public support for his ruling coalition.
But some LDP lawmakers suggest Kishida, whose support rates are already relatively high, should focus on campaigning in as many electoral districts as possible before the election.
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