Ms. Takaichi, who repeatedly referred to the Prime Minister as “Mark” in remarks to journalists, said the strategic partnership takes Japan and Canada to a new level.
Mr. Carney was the guest at an official dinner with Ms. Takaichi on Friday evening, where the Prime Minister presented her with a Canadian-themed cake to mark her birthday, which falls on Saturday.
The two leaders signed three memorandums of co-operation on defence and security for joint Coast Guard exercises, international emergency response and action against illegal fishing in the North Pacific. Both Canada and Japan are significantly boosting military spending, which, in Tokyo’s case, is to deter future aggression from China, among other countries.
Canada and Japan also pledged to increase joint operations and training with each other’s naval forces, and the PMO in its statement said Tokyo may join Canada’s Operation NANOOK exercises that take place in the Canadian Arctic on a near-year-round basis. NANOOK is Canada’s premier Arctic training and sovereignty operation in the North.
Japan has been an observer in past NANOOK exercises but is now considering full participation, the PMO said.