NATO to invite Asia-Pacific leaders to June summit in The Hague

NATO leadership plans to invite the heads of government from Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to its upcoming summit in June, continuing the alliance’s push to strengthen ties with key partners in the Asia-Pacific region (APR).

The summit is scheduled to take place on June 24–25 in The Hague, Netherlands. While no dedicated sessions with Asia-Pacific partners are planned, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte—who visited Japan in April—is expected to hold meetings with the leaders of these countries, Caliber.Az reports, citing Japanese media.

This outreach is part of a broader NATO initiative launched three years ago under former U.S. President Joe Biden, aimed at fostering greater coordination with like-minded democracies in the Pacific as a counterbalance to Russia. The alliance hopes these partnerships will serve a broader deterrence strategy.

NATO's engagement with the Asia-Pacific is also fueled by growing concerns in the West over deepening security and economic cooperation between Russia and China. These evolving dynamics are increasingly seen as a strategic threat by Western policymakers.

The Hague summit may also present an opportunity for Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to meet with the newly elected president of South Korea, whose election is set for June 3. 

Notably, the summit is anticipated to bring together heads of state and government from all 32 NATO member countries, along with leaders from partner nations and the European Union. The summit is set to address strategies for continued financial and military support to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, as well as discussions on Ukraine's potential future membership in NATO.

By Khagan Isayev