Qatar and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding defence co-operation, focusing on strengthening security ties and ensuring stability across the Indo-Pacific. The pledge was renewed during the 2nd Japan-Qatar Military-to-Military Dialogue, held on September 29 at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo.
Military Dialogue Deepens Security Ties
The dialogue brought together senior military officials to discuss pressing regional and international security matters. The Japanese delegation was led by Hayashi Mitsuko, Director General for International Affairs at the Ministry of Defense. Staff Brigadier Nassir bin Ali al-Thani, deputy chief of the International Military Co-operation Authority, headed the Qatari side.
Discussions covered the future direction of bilateral defence co-operation and specific ways to increase exchanges between the two armed forces. Both nations highlighted the importance of continued collaboration to secure maritime safety and maintain stability throughout the Indo-Pacific and the wider Middle East.
Strategic Partnership Beyond Defence
This military dialogue builds on a series of high-level diplomatic engagements, including the second Strategic Dialogue held in Tokyo in January 2025. That meeting, chaired by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Hayashi Yoshimasa, covered a broad agenda.
The two countries agreed to expand joint investments in the energy sector, strengthen partnerships in cybersecurity and technology, and promote cultural exchanges. This engagement is part of Qatar’s wider strategy of fostering key international partnerships, similar to how the Qatar–Pakistan Joint Ministerial Committee holds its sixth session to bolster bilateral ties. A significant outcome of the dialogue was an agreement to exempt Qatari citizens from entry visas to Japan via a pre-registration system, marking a new milestone in relations.
Japan’s Focus on Middle East Stability
A Japanese Ministry of Defense official recently emphasised the critical importance of the Middle East to Japan’s national interests. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, the official noted that regional stability directly affects Japan’s energy security, as it relies on the area for approximately 90% of its crude oil imports.
The official stated that Japan is committed to building trust through defence co-operation and high-level exchanges, guided by its vision of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’. Key objectives include ensuring safe maritime routes, securing access to ports, and improving mutual understanding between defence authorities.
A Timeline of Growing Co-operation
Defence relations between Qatar and Japan have steadily advanced since the signing of a Memorandum on Defense Exchanges in May 2019. This foundational agreement has led to regular engagements, including:
* A phone conversation between the two defence ministers in October 2019.
* Virtual talks between the Chiefs of Staff in October 2021.
* The first Military-to-Military Talks in November 2023.
* A ministerial meeting in June 2024.
A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel also made a port call to Qatar in November 2024, symbolising the growing friendship between the two nations’ maritime services. This approach mirrors Japan’s broader policy of engaging with key regional players, including Bahrain and Jordan, as well as Türkiye, a country with which Qatar and Türkiye commend success of the Supreme Strategic Committee on their own strong diplomatic ties.
