Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in Tokyo on Wednesday and announced a plan to make their critical‑mineral supply chains more secure and to work together on defense and advanced technology. They said the goal is to cut dependence on China, which dominates the global rare‑earth market that fuels electric vehicles, semiconductors and military hardware.
In a joint press announcement, Takaichi explained that the two countries will set up a high‑level dialogue on artificial intelligence and will encourage private‑sector collaboration in cutting‑edge fields such as nuclear fusion, hydrogen and defense equipment. They also said Berlin will join the Global Combat Air Program, a trilateral project aimed at building a next‑generation fighter jet with Japan, Britain and Italy.
Key Points
The agreement follows German leader Merz’s first visit to Japan since he took office in May 2025. Three joint statements will be released later, Takaichi said. The plans include deeper cooperation on rare‑earth extraction, processing and recycling to reduce the risk of supply disruption from China’s tightened export controls.
Takaichi highlighted that Japan is strengthening defense ties with Germany and other European partners as China’s military assertiveness in the Indo‑Pacific region and Russia’s war in Ukraine raise security concerns. Unmanned systems and drone technology are identified as priority areas for joint research and development.
“We agreed to further strengthen our strategic cooperation across a wide range of fields,” she said.
Both leaders stressed that the new framework will support not only national security but also economic resilience for the world’s fourth- and third‑largest economies. The partnership signals a broader effort among like‑minded countries to diversify critical‑mineral sources and protect high‑tech supply chains from geopolitical risks.
