Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated on the 29th that, for the first time, Japan’s Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces will dispatch four SDF officers to the NATO institution for security assistance and training to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense indicated that the personnel to be dispatched include two Ground SDF officers, one Maritime SDF officer, and one Air SDF officer. The dispatch period is for one year and they will start work in June. The dispatched officers will not participate in actual combat.
Koizumi said that this dispatch will help Japan obtain various experiences and lessons, such as “new forms of warfare” exhibited on the Ukrainian battlefield, strengthen Japan’s own defense system, and further deepen Japan’s cooperation with NATO.
According to Kyodo News, the aid institution for Ukraine is located on a US military base in Germany, with about 700 people engaged in its work. Personnel come from NATO member states, as well as countries like Australia. This institution is responsible for coordinating provision of equipment and training to the Ukrainian military, and also undertakes liaison work with relevant countries.
The Asahi Shimbun quoted a Ministry of Defense official as saying the Japanese government plans to complete the revision of the “Three Security Documents” within the year, with responses to “new forms of warfare” becoming a major topic.
On the same day, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that it has contributed about 2.2 billion yen (approximately 54.75 million ringgit) to NATO’s “Ukraine Priority Needs List” framework. This is Japan’s first funding to this framework. According to Kyodo News, the funds will be used to purchase non-lethal equipment. Previously, Japan had provided unmanned aerial vehicle detection systems and other equipment to Ukraine through other NATO funds.