NATO Day : Event Report

As part of the Expo’s Peace and Human Rights Week, the Nordic Pavilion hosted “NATO Day.” This event brought together all five Nordic NATO members—Norway, Denmark, and Iceland as founding members, along with Finland (joined in 2023) and Sweden (joined in 2024). The conference focused on cooperation between Japan and NATO, as well as peace and security for the next generation.

Day 1: Global Security and Emerging Threats

The first day opened with welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Stefán Haukur Pálsson, Ambassador of Iceland to Japan, and H.E. Mr. Ovidiu Alexandru Raetchi, Ambassador of Romania to Japan.

In the session “Peace and Security in the Contemporary International System,” Mr. Nikos Loutas, Deputy Assistant Secretary General ad interim at NATO Headquarters, delivered a keynote speech on “NATO’s History, Present, and Future.” Mr. Seiichiro Taguchi, Deputy Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, highlighted Japan’s cooperation with NATO.

A panel discussion on “Women, Peace, and Security (WPS)” featured H.E. Ms. Kristin Iglum, Ambassador of Norway to Japan, representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Ms. Louise Olsson of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. The discussion emphasized the importance of gender inclusion in peacebuilding.

Afternoon sessions focused on non-traditional and hybrid threats, with experts from the UK, Canada, and NTT addressing challenges such as AI and cyberattacks, underlining the need for strengthened international cooperation.

Day 2: International Cooperation and the Role of the Next Generation

The second day began with opening remarks from Ambassador Kristin Iglum of Norway, followed by a session titled “Dialogue with IP4 Partners” with diplomats from South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Discussions highlighted NATO’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific and reinforced the commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with Japan.

Support for Ukraine was also a key theme, with contributions from Mr. Semenyuk, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, and experts from JICA, stressing the importance of global solidarity in the face of Russia’s aggression.

A youth panel then brought together students from the University of Tokyo, Harvard University, and other institutions, who presented on priority issues for peace and security. Afternoon sessions included expert lectures on countering hybrid threats, a roundtable with NATO Headquarters, and a policy simulation exercise—providing young participants with hands-on experience in security policy-making.

Conclusion

The event provided a valuable platform to showcase NATO’s activities while strengthening cooperation between Japan, the Nordic countries, and the wider international community. It particularly highlighted the roles of gender and youth in peacebuilding, and the need for collective responses to emerging challenges such as AI and cyber threats. Many participants remarked that it gave them “an opportunity to see security as a more immediate and personal issue.”

The Nordic Pavilion will continue to host diverse events under the theme “Nordic Circle – Together Towards a Better Future,” focusing on peace, human rights, and sustainability.