The creation of an ‘Asian version of NATO’ and collective security architecture in the region is one of the options for the future, which should be considered in the medium and long term, said Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
‘The situation around Japan today is the harshest since the war. I think the most important thing is to build a multi-level network of relations with like-minded countries and allies. <…> As for the Asian version of NATO, I think it is one of the ideas for the future, and it will be necessary to study it in the medium and long term,’ Takeshi Iwaya said.
The minister, however, noted that the current constitution of Japan does not allow the exercise of the right of collective self-defence to defend another country.
He added that in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean region, ‘the situation is still a little different from Europe.’ He said each country has its own peculiarities of political, economic and security systems and policies, which ‘has to be taken into account’.
‘Consequently, I think that right now in Asia it will be difficult to create a mechanism involving the obligation of mutual defence’, – he specified.
Recall, earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is going through a difficult period in Russian history. He stressed that in the emerging conditions of the new world reality, ‘someone is striving’ to preserve its fading hegemony through Russia.
