U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director for U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, hosted Japan Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa, director of defense plans and policy department, at USEUCOM‘s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 11, 2024.
The meeting with Minamikawa and USEUCOM leadership focused on security issues in the European theater and prospective opportunities for enhanced security collaboration.
This engagement followed an earlier visit to Japan in February 2024 by U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, USEUCOM commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Cavoli’s visit stressed the importance of cooperation with like-minded countries to address global security challenges.
"The U.S.- Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," Lasica said. "With shared core interests and values like promoting stability and security in the region, advocating for political and economic freedoms, and working towards peaceful resolutions in conflicts, this partnership is crucial for the well-being of both nations and the global community."
While some 10,000 kilometers separate Tokyo and Stuttgart, the bilateral discussions with Minamikawa underscored the close-knit relationships that exist between American and Japanese military leaders in both the Indo-Pacific region as well as in Europe. Japan provided significant financial aid to Ukraine immediately after the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of that country in February 2022. Today, Japan is the largest contributor to the United Nations Development Programme’s humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and has been a significant and active contributor of non-lethal weapons to assist Ukraine protect its citizens and sovereign territory through the International Donor Coordination Center.
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About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.
