Japan, Germany agree on supply chains, AI and cyber cooperation

· Security · Japan · Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Wednesday, with the two pledging to boost economic security and technology cooperation and expressing 'grave concern' over economic coercion, including arbitrary export restrictions and retaliatory measures on critical minerals. Japanese and German defence chiefs separately agreed to deepen cooperation to prevent cyberattacks, as Japan continues to reel from almost daily revelations of serious data breaches. Merz said Germany is examining whether it could play a role in the GCAP fighter jet programme led by Japan, Italy and Britain, after a rival Franco-German initiative collapsed earlier this year.

Why it matters：The partnership aligns two major industrial economies against economic coercion and could draw Germany into a Pacific fighter programme, reshaping allied defence supply chains.

Key points

  • The leaders expressed 'grave concern' over economic coercion and export restrictions.
  • Japan and Germany defence chiefs agreed to deepen cyber cooperation.
  • Germany is weighing a role in the Japan-Italy-UK GCAP programme.

Sources (original reporting)

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