Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Monday to strengthen cooperation between Japan and Italy, particularly in space regulation and strategic partnership areas [1, 2].
The leaders pledged to work together on stronger rules for space, including rulemaking to address attacks on satellites, while also discussing how best to support their respective space industries [1]. This follows earlier agreements to deepen joint collaboration in defense, critical minerals, technology, and industrial policy [2].
Their meeting aimed to bolster bilateral ties on security, economic resilience, and global challenges ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit scheduled later this week in France [2]. Japan and Italy also collaborate on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a fighter jet development project involving the United Kingdom [2].
Earlier in 2026, Japan and Italy elevated their relationship to a "special strategic partnership". In January, Meloni visited Tokyo where the two leaders pledged to deepen cooperation on multiple fronts [2].
Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to Rome was part of a broader European tour that included talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 1 before heading to the G7 summit in Evian, France [2].
Under Meloni’s government, Italy has expanded its Indo-Pacific engagement, while Japan seeks closer partnerships with European democracies to address regional security, economic resilience, and supply chain vulnerabilities [2].
The enhanced cooperation on space regulation and strategic issues will be a key topic as the leaders prepare for the G7 summit in mid-September.
