26 May 2005

General Hajime Massaki, Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) visited NATO HQ 26 May 2005 General Hajime Massaki, Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) being welcomed to NATO HQ, Brussels by General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee General Hajime Massaki, Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) visited NATO HQ, Brussels and called on General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee. Although there are no formal ties with NATO, recent changes in the security environment has led Japan to seek information and international experience to assist them in the development of their Military Doctrine. They are considering ways and means to contribute to the creation of a safer international security environment. On 10 December 2004, the Government of Japan approved their National Defence Programme Guideline for 2005 and beyond. This defence plan calls for Japan to enhance the joint operational capabilities of the JSDF and to participate actively in international peace cooperation activities. The JSDF has also asked the General Hajime Massaki, Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) being welcomed to NATO HQ, Brussels by General Harald Kujat, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee Japanese Defence Research Centre to conduct a survey on its movement of future defence posture for international security. Earlier this year, members of this Research Centre visited related organisations in America and Europe, and in particular NATO and the EU for in-depth discussions on the trends of multinational common defence posture and multinational security cooperation. General Kujat and General Massaki discussed ways in which Japan may seek a closer co-operation with NATO military activities. General Massaki also called on NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo.