Japan has strengthened its diplomatic engagement with the Western Balkans following a summit meeting in Tokyo between Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović. The visit marks a symbolic milestone, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries and the first official trip by a Montenegrin head of state to Japan.
During the meeting, Takaichi underlined Montenegro’s role as a NATO member and described it as a partner sharing common values and principles with Japan, including democracy and the rule of law. She reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to supporting Montenegro’s institutional development through the Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative launched under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while also expressing continued backing for its EU accession path.
From the Montenegrin side, President Milatović highlighted the shared political and institutional values between both countries and expressed appreciation for Japan’s long-standing support. He also confirmed plans to open a Montenegrin embassy in Tokyo, a move seen as an effort to institutionalise and deepen bilateral relations at a diplomatic level.
Beyond bilateral issues, both leaders exchanged views on broader geopolitical developments, including security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, with particular reference to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme, the war in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East. The discussions reflected an increasingly explicit linkage between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security environments.
The meeting also carried a clear economic and strategic dimension. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation not only politically but also in trade and investment, signalling Japan’s continued effort to diversify its partnerships in Europe’s periphery while reinforcing its narrative of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” aligned with like-minded states.
