The EU-Japan Connectivity in Today’s International Context – Japan’s Strategic Thinking: Europe, US, and Indo-Pacific

The Latvian Institute of International Affairs, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Latvia, invites you to the talk event with Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe, Senior Fellow of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation “The EU-Japan Connectivity in Today’s International Context – Japan’s Strategic Thinking: Europe, US, and Indo-Pacific.”

February 18, 13.00 – 14.00 | ZOOM, register here.

The EU-Japan Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure launched in September 2019 set a new stage for EU-Japan cooperation. This agreement follows the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) that took effect on February 1, 2019. The event will focus on the importance of the EU-Japan connectivity and cooperation, from the foreign and security policy perspectives, concerning Japan’s strategic thinking vis-a-vis Europe, the US, and Indo-Pacific.

  • 13:00-13:05, Introduction by Prof. Dr. Andris Spruds, Director of the LIIA and Professor at Riga Stradins University;
  • 13:05-13:10, Remarks by Mr. Yasuhiro Kawaguchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Embassy of Japan in Latvia;
  • 13:10-13:50, Lecture by Mr. Tsuneo Watanabe, Senior Fellow of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation;
  • 13:50-14:00, Q&A session;

The discussion will be moderated by Ms. Aleksandra Palkova, Junior Researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs.

Working language: English.

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Mr. Watanabe’s biography:
Mr. Watanabe is a political scientist focusing on the Japan-US relations and international security in Asia, with a long career in think tanks both in Washington D.C. and in Tokyo. As one of the most renowned and influential opinion leaders in Japan, he provides analysis on various international situations, with his deep insight into US affairs. Since 2017, Mr. Watanabe is a senior fellow of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, an independent policy research organization in Tokyo. Previously he worked for think tanks, including the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) (1995-2005), Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute (2005-2009), and the Tokyo Foundation (2009-2016).

His publications include: “Japan’s ‘Proactive Contribution’ and US Rebalancing Policy” in Asia Pacific Countries and the US Rebalancing Strategy, edited by David W.F. Huang (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016); “A NATO-Asia Partnership Would Ease Japan’s Regional Security Cooperation Dilemma,” in NATO and the Asia Pacific, edited by Alexander Moens and Brooke A. Smith-Windsor (NATO Defense College, 2016); “New Understanding of Contemporary America” [in Japanese] (Mikasa Shobo, 2012); and “Are the US and China Trading Places in 2025: History Tells the Truth of US-China Relations” [in Japanese] (PHP Research Institute, 2011).

Published 04 February 2021