The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour is to call into Japan in August and then participate in exercises with the Japanese Self-Defence Forces, in a move signalling closer military ties between the two countries.
The visit was announced in the past week by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. This has been presented as an initiative to “to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Italian deployment will follow the participation of German, French and Spanish units with their Japanese counterparts in July.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly met on the sidelines of a recent G7 meeting in Italy where Japan pressed the case for enhanced cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
A convergence of geopolitical interests between the two countries has developed over the past few years, as each has become concerned about the conduct of China. Both have also been supportive of Ukraine in its war with Russia.
According to Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, the visit would be largely symbolic, but is aimed at furthering Japanese military cooperation with Europe in the hope that in the event of an Asian conflagration, European powers would extend support to Japan.
Japan, Italy and the UK are also working jointly on the development of a new fighter aircraft. Japan’s commitment to military expansion is perceived as a significant opportunity for European arms producers.
[Photo: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan]