Abe has placed particular emphasis on strengthening Japan s alliance with the Unites States, which had atrophied as a result of the DPJ government s feckless behavior (relations with China deteriorated as well).

To do this, the often pre scripted and stale dialogue between the North Atlantic Council and the EU s Political and Security Committee should be opened up to include topics such as combating terrorism and the proliferation of WMD, or regions such as Ukraine or Moldova.