In a historic frist, two Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) F-15 fighter jets landed at Laage Air Base in northeastern Germany on Tuesday, marking an unprecedented expansion of Japanese military cooperation into Europe.
The deployment, part of a month-long series of defense exchanges with key allies, underscores a growing alignment between Japan and nations across the Euro-Atlantic region amid shared concerns over global security and the defense of democratic values.This initiative signals a deepening commitment to interoperability and a unified front against emerging threats, extending beyond customary geographic boundaries.
The F-15s, originating from Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, arrived in germany as the final stop on a tour that began September 14 and included visits to the United States, Canada, and Britain. The mission is designed to bolster collaborative defense capabilities through practical exchanges and training exercises.
During the visit, ASDF and German Air Force personnel engaged in discussions and observed training exercises, including a demonstration of the German Air Force’s Eurofighter jets currently deployed as part of NATO’s rapid response force in eastern Europe.
“The security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable and interconnected,” stated ASDF Chief of Staff General Morita Takehiro, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to broader international security cooperation. He further expressed the ASDF’s desire to strengthen defense collaboration and exchanges with Germany.
Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, Inspector of the German Air force, affirmed a mutual agreement to jointly defend “rules-based societies and democracies beyond the regions of Asia, Europe and North America.”
