German Chancellor Merkel acknowledges and celebrates the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister
In a significant development, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga have marked the beginning of their collaboration with a photo shared by the dts News Agency. The image, likely taken after Merkel's congratulatory call to Suga, does not reveal any personal encounters or inter-societal initiatives between the two leaders.
The photo comes amidst a broader and deeper German-Japanese relationship, one that has been built on key shared values and interests. Over the years, both countries have committed themselves to democratic governance, rule of law, global stability, and economic cooperation.
Under Merkel’s leadership (2005–2021), Germany emphasized multilateralism and close cooperation with partners like Japan, within the EU framework. Merkel supported deepening economic ties and trade relations with Japan, which the EU and Japan have continued to expand, especially following the 2019 EU-Japan trade agreement. This agreement has resulted in growing bilateral trade, with key exports including cars, medicaments, and industrial technology.
Japan, under Suga’s leadership from September 2020 to October 2021, continued its focus on strengthening its security posture amid rising regional tensions. During and after his leadership, Japan has moved toward rearmament and proposals like forming an "Asian NATO" to counterbalance China, Russia, and North Korea.
Recent developments highlight intensified security cooperation and mutual trade interests between the two nations. Both countries share concerns over China’s trade practices and regional assertiveness, and have aligned themselves more firmly with Western democratic partners in economic and strategic domains.
Despite the lack of personal encounters or inter-societal initiatives in the shared photo, Merkel looks forward to working with Suga to advance the friendship between Germany and Japan. The photo could be a symbolic start to their collaboration, marking a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between the two nations.
[1] European Commission. (2019). EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12493-EU-Japan-Economic-Partnership-Agreement
[2] The Diplomat. (2020). Japan’s New Security Strategy: A More Aggressive Approach to China. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/japans-new-security-strategy-a-more-aggressive-approach-to-china/
[3] German Federal Foreign Office. (2021). Germany-Japan Relations. Retrieved from https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/laenderinformationen/asien/japan/deutschland-japan-beziehungen
[4] The Japan Times. (2021). Japan’s defense white paper: China, North Korea threats top security concerns. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/13/national/japan-defense-white-paper-2021/
- In the realms of general-news and other politics, Germany and Japan, under the leaderships of Angela Merkel and Yoshihide Suga respectively, are expected to focus on further strengthening their relationship beyond the signed EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, through increased collaboration in security and trade.
- The shared photo of Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Suga marks the beginning of their collaboration, but other cooperative initiatives, such as mutual concerns over China's trade practices and regional assertiveness, are driving the deepening friendship between Germany and Japan.
