Japan, Russia to Hold 2-Plus-2 Security Talks Late This Month

July 10, 2018

Tokyo- Japan and Russia plan to hold the third "two-plus-two" meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Moscow late this month, Japanese government sources said Monday.

At the Moscow meeting, the two countries are expected to agree on the continuation of exchanges between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Russian military, including joint training on search and rescue missions.

The two-plus-two security meeting will be attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, as well as their Russian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu.

The two countries last held such a meeting in March 2017.

With Russia positive about relaxing international sanctions against North Korea, the Japanese side is expected to seek Moscow's cooperation in maintaining the sanctions until the reclusive country's denuclearization is a reality.

Over Japan's planned procurement of Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense systems from the United States, the Japanese side hopes to persuade the Russians that the missile shields deployed in Japan will not pose a threat to Russia. Jiji Press