Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Outlines Japan's Ties with Latin America

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently delivered a speech outlining his strategy to enhance Japan's connections with Latin America, following his visits to Brazil and Paraguay. This move comes as Tokyo aims to bolster its ties with emerging and developing nations, emphasizing a mission to confront China's expanding presence and influence in the resource-rich region. Kishida's focus includes fostering partnerships with countries in the Global South to address pressing global challenges like economic disparities and climate crisis, showcasing a commitment to cooperation on critical issues impacting both regions.

Notably, it has been almost a decade since a Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, visited the Latin American region, with Kishida marking the end of this prolonged gap with his recent diplomatic engagements. Promising collaboration with nations in the Global South, a term commonly used to describe developing countries, Kishida's speech underscores Japan's intentions to work hand-in-hand with these nations on tackling shared challenges. The presence of a sizeable business delegation accompanying the prime minister underlines Japan's support for its companies operating in Latin America, indicating a dual commitment to both economic interests and diplomatic relations in the region.