Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Skips NATO Summit in Turkey Amid Diet Legislative Deadlock

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed in Japan this week to deal with a legislative agenda deadlock in the Diet and did not travel to Turkey for the two-day NATO summit, a move some Japanese commentary said cost her an opportunity to deepen ties with European leaders and explain Japan’s view that the Indo-Pacific security situation is severe. Nikkei Asia reported on July 9 that East Asia was among the summit’s agenda items alongside the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Japan was represented at the summit by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Within Japan’s government, officials sought to play down the impact of a second consecutive absence by Japan’s leader, with one senior Foreign Ministry official telling Nikkei Asia it would “of course” be better for the prime minister to attend, while another said the summit’s focus has shifted toward outcomes through meetings among NATO member leaders.

At home, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition plans to use its two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives to push through priority legislation, prompting opposition parties to refuse participation in deliberations on a bill aimed at reducing seats in the lower house, contributing to the parliamentary impasse. Takaichi had decided to skip the summit based on expectations of committee meetings on July 6 and a party leaders’ debate on July 8, but the debate was later postponed as Diet proceedings were disrupted. Keio University associate professor Michito Tsuruoka said Takaichi could have used the summit to explain the severity of the Indo-Pacific situation influenced by North Korea and China.