ByEuronews
Published on
•Updated
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi upgraded their countries’ relationship to a “special strategic partnership” Friday, focusing on critical minerals supply chains and defense cooperation as both seek to reduce dependence on China.
The meeting in Tokyo marked the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations and Meloni’s third visit to Japan since becoming premier in 2022.
Japan has faced growing tensions with China over Taiwan and the supply of rare earths. Takaichi made remarks about defending Taiwan, prompting Beijing to tighten export controls on critical minerals.
China controls roughly 70% of global rare earth production and over 90% of processing capacity.
“We agreed that cooperating to strengthen the resilience of our critical mineral supply chains is of utmost urgency,” Takaichi told reporters.
The leaders expressed “strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion” in the East and South China Seas, a reference to Chinese territorial claims, and condemned North Korea’s nuclear programs and its military cooperation with Russia.
Sixth-generation fighter jet at the center
Bilateral trade between Italy and Japan — its third-largest trading partner in Asia — reached approximately $11.6 billion (around €10 billion) in 2024.
Italian investment in Japan stood at €2.36 billion in 2024, while Japanese investment in Italy exceeded €3.7 billion.
The partnership centers on defense and security, economic security and critical minerals, and cooperation in Africa.
Defense cooperation focuses on the Global Combat Air Program, a trilateral project with the UK to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2035.
Britain has committed £2 billion (€2.3bn) to GCAP since 2021 and budgeted over £12 billion (€13.9bn) for the next decade. Japan and the UK are expected to shoulder about 40% of costs each, with Italy contributing roughly 20%, according to leaked program details.
The aircraft will replace the Eurofighter Typhoon for Britain and Italy and the Mitsubishi F-2 for Japan. The program aims to deliver a stealth fighter with advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities and the ability to control unmanned combat drones.
“GCAP is not only a defense-strengthening project, it is also an industrial and technological strengthening project,” Meloni said, confirming the 2035 delivery target.
The program has progressed more smoothly than Europe’s Future Combat Air System led by France, Germany and Spain, which has been plagued by disagreements.
The partnership’s economic security dimension focuses on securing supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals essential to defense systems, semiconductors and electric vehicles.
Relationship becoming ‘solid friendship’
In their joint declaration, the leaders expressed “deep concern about all forms of economic coercion and the use of non-market policies and practices and the use of export restrictions that disrupt global supply chains,” language directed at both China’s export controls and Washington’s protectionism under US President Donald Trump.
Italy’s approach centers on its Mattei Plan for Africa, a €5.5 billion initiative launched in January 2024 targeting energy, infrastructure and mining projects across nine African countries.
The plan is named after Enrico Mattei, founder of energy giant ENI, who in the 1950s offered African oil producers more favorable terms than Western competitors.
Italy’s debt-to-GDP ratio of around 137% limits Rome’s financial capacity, forcing it to rely on EU Global Gateway funds for co-financing.
The upgrade also comes as both Meloni and Takaichi navigate unpredictable US foreign policy under Trump. Italy and Japan have traditionally depended on Washington for defense partnerships but are working to reduce reliance on US programs, including through GCAP.
Meloni and Takaichi are the only two women leading G7 nations and the first women to lead their respective countries. Both head conservative parties.
“I am very happy to be here today in Tokyo, alongside Sanae Takaichi and we have only known each other for a short time, but for us a relationship based on a special rapport was immediately established, and I believe this relationship is quickly becoming a solid friendship on a personal level as well,” Meloni said.
Meloni will continue her Asia tour with a visit to South Korea, where she will meet President Lee Jae-myung.