Welcoming NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg—Establishing the "Center for Strategy"

On February 1, 2023, a keynote speech was held at the Mita Campus welcoming Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The title of Mr. Stoltenberg's speech was "NATO and Japan: Strong Partners for a New Security Reality." From his leadership position, he pointed out the vital role of NATO and the importance of strengthening relations between NATO and Japan as European security is shaken following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Afterward, a panel discussion was held among four people: Associate Professor Michito Tsuruoka of the Faculty of Policy Management, an expert in European security studies, who served as moderator; Professor Satoru Mori of the Faculty of Law, an expert in American foreign and security policy; and myself, an expert in Western diplomatic history. Following this, a Q&A session with students was held, where we heard frank and lively questions and opinions.

In fact, this is not the first time we have welcomed a NATO Secretary General to Keio University. On December 13, 2007, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also gave a speech at the Mita Campus during his visit to Japan. However, the level of attention this time was significantly different compared to then. Domestic and international media covered the visit extensively, and there was great interest from students and the public. This is likely because NATO's policies are drawing significant attention as the war situation in Ukraine remains deadlocked.

This time, the Japanese government also responded at the head-of-state level rather than the foreign-minister level in terms of diplomatic protocol. The day before the speech, Secretary General Stoltenberg visited the Prime Minister's Official Residence for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. It was reported that both parties "confirmed that they would elevate Japan-NATO cooperation to even greater heights." Additionally, Prime Minister Kishida conveyed that he "welcomes NATO's deepening interest and involvement in the Indo-Pacific region and, in light of this closer relationship, intends to establish an independent NATO representative office." This is a major step forward.

Since the outbreak of war in February last year, Secretary General Stoltenberg has frequently communicated through the media, appealing for the international community to unite in criticizing Russia's aggression and supporting Ukraine. After the Cold War ended, we hoped for a united and peaceful Europe. NATO has played an important role in post-Cold War Europe for the sake of European peace and stability. Therefore, the outbreak of a major war on the European continent in this manner is a major setback for NATO and a great tragedy for the people of Europe, even if Ukraine is not a NATO member. Consequently, an end to the war as soon as possible is required. Such a sense of tension and a strong mission were felt in Secretary General Stoltenberg's keynote speech. Furthermore, Associate Professor Tsuruoka is a leading expert on NATO research in Japan, and while serving as a specialist at the Embassy of Japan in Belgium and previously working at the National Institute for Defense Studies of the Ministry of Defense, he maintained close interactions with NATO Secretariat staff. This lecture was made possible through the efforts of Mr. Tsuruoka.

By the way, this special lecture by the NATO Secretary General was held as a pre-opening event for the "Center for Strategy," which was launched on March 1 this year under the umbrella of the Keio University Global Research Institute (KGRI). At this Center for Strategy, I assumed the position of Director, and Professor Satoru Mori and Associate Professor Michito Tsuruoka were appointed as Deputy Directors.

In order to return the knowledge possessed by universities to society, the importance of university-based think tanks communicating on international issues and other matters is higher than ever. At Harvard University, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs was established in 1973, and at the University of Cambridge, where I studied abroad for one year until last summer, the Centre for Geopolitics was established in 2015.

For a long time in Japan, there was a culture where people hesitated to discuss themes such as security and strategy at universities. On the other hand, Keio University possesses many outstanding experts who lead Japan in research fields such as foreign policy, security policy, and regional studies. In fact, even after the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year, many experts belonging to Keio University or who obtained degrees from Keio, such as the aforementioned Associate Professor Tsuruoka and Professor Yoko Hirose of the Faculty of Policy Management, have been active in media such as newspapers and television. Since its founding, Keio University has had a tradition of the "spirit of jitsugaku," possessing a culture that maintains contact with real-world society while respecting an academic stance based on objective evidence. I believe the establishment of the Center for Strategy is also part of the lineage of that "spirit of jitsugaku."

Originally, this Center for Strategy was supposed to be established centered around the late Professor Toshihiro Nakayama of the Faculty of Policy Management (and Deputy Director of KGRI), who passed away suddenly on May 1 last year. Mr. Tsuruoka, Mr. Mori, and I were all personally close to Mr. Nakayama, who had experience working at think tanks and was a leading figure in policy research in Japan; the magnitude of that loss is immeasurable. In order to respond to the preparatory efforts and the vision of the late Professor Nakayama, I hope to expand and develop this Center for Strategy by all means.

Subsequently, on March 17, a lecture titled "Korea-Japan Future Generation Lecture" was held at the Mita Campus as an event of the Center for Strategy, welcoming President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea. This event was moderated by Professor Junya Nishino of the Faculty of Law, a leading expert in South Korean political research in Japan. Professor Nishino obtained his doctorate from Yonsei University after graduating from the Keio University Faculty of Law. On the other hand, South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min, who is close to President Yoon, obtained his doctorate from Keio University after graduating from a university in South Korea. It could be said that this was a lecture born from Keio's tradition of "international exchange."

In an era where the world is becoming increasingly chaotic, there is great significance in advancing international exchange and policy research in this way to meet the demands of society. I want to steadily nurture the Center for Strategy as a new organization that inherits the spirit of Keio University.