BRUSSELS ¨C Maintaining stability in Europe, with which Japan shares fundamental values, serves the country¡¯s interests, Japanese Ambassador to NATO Osamu Izawa said in an interview.

Izawa pointed out that even if U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s administration scales back its involvement in European defense, the region can maintain stability by strengthening its own defense capabilities.

He brushed aside concerns about trans-Atlantic tensions over issues such as the war in Iran. NATO¡¯s unity, based on collective defense, is unwavering, he said, adding that the alliance is ¡°rock-solid.¡±

Referring to a NATO summit set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Ankara,?Izawa said it was ¡°most important¡± for the leaders of NATO¡¯s 32 member states to demonstrate the alliance¡¯s presence to the international community.

He said Japan-NATO bonds are becoming even stronger through support for Ukraine and defense industry cooperation.

¡°We only engaged in dialogue in the past, but now we are truly working together,¡± he said.

While referring to the dispatch last month of four Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel to the headquarters of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine in Germany, Izawa said the information and lessons learned there ¡°will help enhance Japan¡¯s security.¡±

Izawa said the recognition that security in the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable to security in the?Indo-Pacific regions has become increasingly widespread within NATO.

North Korea¡¯s deployment of troops to support Russia¡¯s war with Ukraine and China¡¯s support for Moscow¡¯s war effort deepened the linkage between European and Asian security, he said.

He underscored the importance of Japan¡¯s continued support for Ukraine in cooperation with NATO. If unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force are allowed, ¡°it would not bring favorable results to the Asia-Pacific region,¡± Izawa said.