Decoding the news. In a world where instability is becoming structural rather than exceptional, foreign policy increasingly overlaps with economic security, technology and supply chains.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Japan fits squarely into this shift.
- The trip comes as Italy seeks to reinforce the idea of a “Global Italy”, a country that is no longer a sporadic presence in strategic theatres, but a consistent and structured interlocutor, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, one of the most consequential regions for global security and economic resilience.
160 years of ties and a forward-looking agenda:
- Meloni’s visit coincides with the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan, an occasion both governments are using not only to celebrate history, but to project the partnership forward.
- Rome and Tokyo are planning a series of initiatives throughout 2026 to mark the anniversary, while ongoing agreements across multiple sectors – from defence to technology – are giving concrete depth to the concept of Italy as a global actor.
- The summit in Tokyo confirms that Italy’s presence in the region is no longer episodic. Political dialogue and business engagement are becoming regular, institutionalised, and mutually reinforcing.
Leadership affinity. Symbolism also matters. Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are the first women to lead their respective governments, and both draw on conservative value systems shaped by responsibility, resilience and leadership under pressure.
- Meloni explicitly referenced the Japanese concept of “ganbaru”, meaning not just doing one’s best, but striving to go beyond one’s limits — as a cultural bridge between the two countries.
- The message was clear: in an increasingly unstable world, cooperation cannot be static. It must be strengthened continuously, especially in areas such as digital transformation, energy transition, and the fragmentation of the global economic order.
Shared priorities. The bilateral relationship is already framed by the 2024–2027 Action Plan, under which Japan and Italy define their ties as a “Special Strategic Partnership”:
- A first and natural testing ground is the Indo-Pacific, within the framework of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)based on the rule of law.
- Both leaders reaffirmed their intention to promote stronger links between FOIP and the concept of a Global Mediterranean, reflecting the interconnection between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security.
Defence cooperation is advancing on multiple tracks:
- Regular politico-military dialogue.
- Joint training and military exercises are enabled by the ACSA agreement, in force since September 2025.
- Progress on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the UK, aiming to deliver a next-generation fighter by 2035.
- Beyond GCAP, both sides signalled openness to expanding cooperation on new defence technologies and equipment.
Technology, industry and supply chains. Security and economics are inseparable. Italy and Japan share concerns over:
- Non-market practices.
- Export restrictions.
- Supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Market distortions and overcapacity.
- AI robotics, semiconductors, and biomanufacturing
Tech-cooperation. Companies and start-ups from both countries are expected to intensify dialogue, with the Italy–Japan Business Group playing a central role in deepening economic ties.
- Space cooperation is another pillar, building on established collaboration between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Japan’s JAXA, and opening the door to new commercial, industrial and security partnerships.
Takeaways from Japan. Meloni’s Tokyo stop delivers three clear takeaways:
- The Japan–Italy relationship is entering a more operational phase, moving beyond symbolism toward structured political, industrial and security cooperation.
- Italy’s Indo-Pacific presence is now explicitly linked to Taiwan-related stability and maritime security. Rome and Tokyo strongly oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas, reaffirming the centrality of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing all maritime activity.
- The visit reinforces Italy’s ambition to act as a bridge between regions – aligning the Indo-Pacific with the Global Mediterranean and embedding Italian interests within a broader transatlantic and rules-based order.
The bottom line. Meloni’s Japan visit confirms a shift in Italian foreign policy toward strategic consistency.
- By combining shared values, defence cooperation and industrial partnerships, Rome is signalling that its engagement in the Indo-Pacific is no longer occasional — but structural.
- For Italy, the challenge ahead is execution: translating political affinity and strategic alignment into long-term resilience, investment and influence in one of the world’s most contested regions.
