Japan to Send SDF Personnel to NATO Ukraine Support Organization for First Time; No Combat Participation
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that Japan will send Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel to a NATO organization supporting Ukraine for the first time. The four personnel will not participate in combat. The mission aims to strengthen Japan's defense system and deepen cooperation with NATO by learning from new combat methods observed in Ukraine.
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- 📰 Published: May 29, 2026 at 16:48
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Central News Agency (Tokyo, 29th) Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced today that Japan will send Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel to a NATO organization that coordinates military aid to Ukraine for the first time. These four SDF personnel will not participate in actual combat.
According to reports from TV Asahi and Kyodo News, Koizumi stated that this deployment is intended to strengthen Japan's defense system by leveraging various experiences, including the "new combat methods" seen in Ukraine.
Koizumi also stated that the four SDF personnel will participate in the operations of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) starting in June for a period of about one year.
NSATU was established in September 2024 and is headquartered at a U.S. military base in Germany, with a staff of about 700, mainly from NATO member countries and Australia. Its tasks include providing equipment and training to the Ukrainian military, as well as liaising with like-minded countries.
Furthermore, even after a future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, this support organization will continue to assist in training the Ukrainian military.
Koizumi emphasized that "this deployment will further deepen the cooperative relationship between Japan and NATO." The four personnel consist of two Ground Self-Defense Force members, one Maritime Self-Defense Force member, and one Air Self-Defense Force member.
In April 2025, then-Defense Minister Gen Nakatani expressed Japan's willingness to participate in the aforementioned support organization during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
According to reports from TV Asahi and Kyodo News, Koizumi stated that this deployment is intended to strengthen Japan's defense system by leveraging various experiences, including the "new combat methods" seen in Ukraine.
Koizumi also stated that the four SDF personnel will participate in the operations of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) starting in June for a period of about one year.
NSATU was established in September 2024 and is headquartered at a U.S. military base in Germany, with a staff of about 700, mainly from NATO member countries and Australia. Its tasks include providing equipment and training to the Ukrainian military, as well as liaising with like-minded countries.
Furthermore, even after a future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, this support organization will continue to assist in training the Ukrainian military.
Koizumi emphasized that "this deployment will further deepen the cooperative relationship between Japan and NATO." The four personnel consist of two Ground Self-Defense Force members, one Maritime Self-Defense Force member, and one Air Self-Defense Force member.
In April 2025, then-Defense Minister Gen Nakatani expressed Japan's willingness to participate in the aforementioned support organization during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
FAQ
Why is Japan sending SDF personnel?
To learn new combat methods and deepen cooperation with NATO.