On February 13, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. local time for approximately 20 minutes, Defense Minister Koizumi, who was visiting Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, held a defense ministerial meeting with Canadian Defense Minister McGuinty.
- Both ministers stated that, recognizing that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable, it is becoming increasingly important to strengthen cooperation with Canada, which is both a Pacific and an Atlantic nation. In response, Minister McGuinty stated that he hopes to further deepen cooperation with Japan.
- The two Ministers also welcomed the entry into force of the Japan-Canada Information Security Agreement last month and confirmed that they will deepen defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Canada through this agreement, as well as work closely together to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”