Meloni and Takaichi seal Italy-Japan strategic alliance ahead of G7 in Evian
Italian premier Giorgia Meloni hosted Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi for bilateral talks in Rome, celebrating a deepening strategic partnership framed by the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
A partnership renewed
Giorgia Meloni received Sanae Takaichi at Villa Pamphilj in Rome on 15 June 2026, hours before both leaders were due at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains. The meeting marked the latest step in a cooperation track set in motion during Meloni's state visit to Tokyo on 16 January. Meloni described the relationship as a natural strategic alliance, and Takaichi reciprocated the warmth, with the two leaders embracing on arrival.
Italy and Japan are naturally strategic allies destined to work together in the present and on the future.
Gulf crisis and navigation
The talks unfolded as news arrived of a US-Iran memorandum to end hostilities in the Gulf immediately and permanently. Both Meloni and Takaichi welcomed the deal and stressed that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and freedom of navigation must follow quickly.
We hope that this leads to a rapid and certain application of the agreement that brings free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Defence and space cooperation
The two prime ministers reaffirmed joint work on the Global Combat Air Programme, the UK-Italy-Japan sixth-generation fighter project. They also adopted a bilateral space declaration designed to link the Italian and Japanese space agencies more tightly, building on the intergovernmental space dialogue that opened in late May.
Economic and technological push
Meloni and Takaichi confirmed progress on a consultation mechanism for economic security and on joint work in artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, disaster prevention and next-generation civil nuclear power. They announced a plan to hold a new Italy-Japan Business Group session in 2027 and to pursue synergies between Rome's Piano Mattei for Africa and Tokyo's TICAD framework. Discussions also covered the Arctic as a strategic theatre and efforts to secure critical raw material supply chains.
- Meloni state visit to Tokyo; bilateral objectives set
- Italy-Japan Business Group meeting in Nagoya (25–26 May)
- First meeting of the Economic Security bilateral table in Tokyo
- Inaugural session of the Intergovernmental Space Dialogue in Tokyo (28–29 May)
- Meloni–Takaichi meeting in Rome; joint space declaration adopted
- G7 summit opens in Evian (15–17 June)
- G20 summit, further bilateral initiatives expected
Ukraine and the multilateral agenda
Both leaders said they would use the G7 to reaffirm support for Kyiv. Meloni condemned Russia's attacks against civilians and heritage sites, saying a just and lasting peace remains the goal.
After the brutal Russian attacks against civilians, as well as against millennial symbols of Christianity and pieces of UNESCO heritage, we cannot look away.
With their eyes also on the G20 in December, the two premiers signalled that the bilateral partnership would continue to deliver tangible outcomes through 2026.
