France and Japan to Begin Talks on Reciprocal Troop Access Deal
France and Japan have agreed to initiate formal discussions on a reciprocal troop access agreement (RAA), bolstering their military collaboration amidst heightened maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The G7 allies have engaged in numerous joint military exercises in recent years, both bilaterally and within a broader group. For over a year, France has advocated for the commencement of RAA negotiations.
RAAs establish frameworks to streamline military cooperation, simplifying the entry of foreign personnel and equipment for visiting forces.
"They agreed to start negotiations," a Japanese government official stated, following a meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. "Given the accumulation of cooperation and (military) exercises, we consider this important."
A Japanese government statement confirmed the agreement to proceed with talks. The French presidency, in a separate statement, emphasized that concluding the RAA would enhance interoperability between the two militaries.
In December 2023, Japan unveiled its most significant military expansion since World War Two, marking a departure from its post-war pacifism. The country has already concluded RAAs with Australia and the United Kingdom and is in negotiations for a third with the Philippines.
Tokyo, which hosts the largest concentration of U.S. forces abroad, spent approximately two years negotiating the agreement with Australia and one year with Britain.
The official estimated that a deal with France could take about a year to finalize. A French diplomatic source expressed hope for a "very quick" conclusion.
Japan has actively sought to strengthen its defense ties amidst concerns about China, including its pressure on Taiwan, freedom of navigation in the region, and trade disputes.
The country has also extended support to Ukraine in its war against Russia, emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding the rules-based international order.
"We see what's happening in Europe and the Indo-Pacific as inseparable," the government official remarked.
France maintains territories and stations armed forces in the Indo-Pacific, where it has sought to expand its presence. As Kishida adopts a more robust military policy in the region, France aims to highlight its potential for playing a more significant role in Japan's defense industry, similar to its involvement in the civilian nuclear power sector.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu has previously expressed Paris's hope for an RAA agreement with Japan.