EIAS Team

Ishiba Steps Down: What Comes Next for Tokyo and Japan-EU Relations?

On the evening of Sunday 7 September 2025, Ishiba Shigeru announced he was stepping down from his position as the Prime Minister (PM) of Japan after less than a year in office. The decision has come following multiple election blows of his ruling coalition, consisting of Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito. Already in October 2024, just weeks after having assumed office, the coalition lost its majority in the Lower House, following poor results in the general election. In July 2025, the majority was also lost in the Upper House after disappointing parliamentary election results, causing calls for Ishiba’s resignation as Prime Minister to grow louder.

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EU-South Korea-Japan: Revitalizing Defence and Security Ties in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape

The global inter-state cooperation landscape is changing. In this regard, the geopolitical situation detonated by the outbreak of the war in Ukraine has produced two main areas of convergence between Europe and Northeast Asia. First, shifting geopolitical alliances and security challenges have fostered a renewed understanding of defence in all its facets in both regions. Second, thanks to their engagement through NATO and strengthened bilateral cooperation, the EU, Japan, and South Korea are also gaining momentum for enhanced trilateral security cooperation. In doing so, the three partners may be facing an array of challenges, but the opportunities for collaboration are present and continue to be growing.

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Strengthening Ties, Facing New Realities: Is the EU-Kazakhstan Partnership Ready for a New Chapter?

The 21st EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council meeting held on 14 October 2024 in Luxembourg highlighted the rapidly accelerating cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan. As both sides are facing the challenges of navigating global trade, security and governance shifts, their cooperation has rapidly expanded across a range of strategic areas in recent years. As a result, the meeting in Luxembourg addressed key topics such as economic cooperation and the rule of law, while also highlighting their mutual interest in developing sustainable infrastructure through initiatives like the Global Gateway.

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