Merkel invites Japan to join NATO

The German Chancellor in March 2015, during a visit to Tokyo, proposed to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan join NATO, according to The Japan News.

According to the publication, Merkel told Shinzo Abe: “Why not (Japan) join NATO? I can convince British Prime Minister (David) Cameron and French (President François) Hollande. " The head of the Japanese government, "so as not to be impolite," replied that "perhaps in the future," as the newspaper wrote. At the same time, the print publication claims that "Merkel's proposal is extremely unlikely and very unexpected."

Japan is not a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, but along with Australia, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Pakistan, Mongolia and New Zealand, it is part of the Global Partnership program with NATO. These countries are developing cooperation with NATO in areas of mutual interest, and some of them actively contribute to the alliance's operations, including militarily.

On April 30, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe went on a European tour, during which he intends to visit Italy, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. On May 6, he is scheduled to visit Russia.