Japan cancels NATO summit attendance this week, breaking a diplomatic streak that started in 2022. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba decided not to attend the event in The Hague, officials confirmed on Monday. The reason behind this decision is clear. A proposed meeting between NATO and the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) nations now seems unlikely. Japan is one of the four members, alongside South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
All four countries had planned to meet with NATO members at this year’s summit. However, their plans changed after the proposed IP4 gathering appeared to stall. Additionally, there were no confirmed talks scheduled between Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump. Fuji Television reported that without these two key meetings, Ishiba saw no benefit in attending. A source close to the government supported this view, noting that both opportunities had been central to the original plan.
Japan cancels NATO summit attendance despite having announced it just three days prior. The Foreign Ministry had stated Ishiba would “reaffirm with NATO allies the shared recognition that Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are inseparable.” That commitment now falls to Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. He will attend in Ishiba’s place and represent Japan’s views during the summit.
South Korea and Australia have also pulled back. Their leaders will no longer join the event. New Zealand has yet to confirm its position. Trump, meanwhile, had expressed interest in holding a summit with all IP4 nations, but his plan lacked formal agreement. Both Reuters and local outlets reported these updates through anonymous sources. These officials were not authorized to speak to the media but emphasized the shift in Japan’s priorities.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Japan has attended every NATO summit. Its presence signaled support for global security and strengthened ties with the West. Now, with Japan cancels NATO summit attendance, questions arise about future IP4 cooperation. The shift could impact how Indo-Pacific nations engage with NATO going forward. For now, Japan will watch closely. Its absence marks a significant turn in its foreign policy stance this year.
