Japan, Netherlands leaders agree to deepen security, economic ties

The leaders of Japan and the Netherlands agreed Monday that the two nations will further security and economic cooperation based on a new action plan, underscoring the importance of longstanding bilateral ties amid unprecedented global challenges. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should never be allowed "anywhere in the world," stressing that the security of the Indo-Pacific region and that of Europe are inseparable. During the meeting, Ishiba was quoted by the Japanese government as saying he "highly values" the Netherlands' engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, citing the deployment of its navy frigate HNLMS Tromp to Japan last June.