Japan to send officers to NATO command supporting Ukraine for first time

Japan will deploy officers from its Self-Defense Forces to a NATO command in Germany involved in coordinating support for Ukraine, marking a first for the country, according to Japanese media.

The Japan Times reported that the Ministry of Defense announced on May 29 that four officers will be sent to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The command, established in July 2024, is responsible for coordinating the planning, delivery and training related to security assistance for Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The Japanese personnel will include two officers from the Ground Self-Defense Force, and one each from the Air and Maritime Self-Defense Forces. They are expected to work alongside NATO counterparts to coordinate equipment deliveries, training, and liaison activities with partner countries.

The Ministry of Defense stressed that the officers will not take part in combat operations.

“This dispatch will contribute to strengthening Japan’s own defense posture by learning lessons from Ukraine, including those regarding ‘new ways of fighting,’ while also deepening cooperation between Japan and NATO, given that security in the European-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inextricably linked,” the ministry said.