Abstract
This chapter focuses on how changing geopolitics and threat perception makes EU and Japan change their views on security. In November 2024 they signed a Security and Defence Partnership. They are changing their comprehensive approaches, incorporating maritime security (including operations and exercises), space security, cyber issues and hybrid threats (including foreign information manipulations and interference), non-proliferation, peace, conflict prevention and crises management. At the same time, both have announced explosive increases in traditional defence spending. This has become particularly visible with the coming to power of the second Trump administration in the US, which pushes for increased military spending in both Japan and NATO countries. “Hard security” gets more attention than “softer security” at present. A case in point is the “EU-Japan Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure” signed in 2019. The advancement of this partnership at the implementation stage has been very slow.