July 9, 2026
ANKARA – Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed their cooperation regarding China’s launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), during an online conversation on Monday, the same day of the launch. This was confirmed by Koizumi in an X post on Tuesday.
The two exchanged opinions while Koizumi was aboard a flight to Ankara to attend events related to the NATO summit. Rutte also mentioned the exchange during a press conference on Monday, adding, “It is evidence of the fact that we cannot be naive about China.”
The SLBM was likely launched toward the South Pacific Ocean, with strong condemnations issued from Australia and New Zealand. The two countries, along with Japan and South Korea, are designated as NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners (IP4). On Tuesday, Koizumi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attended a meeting of IP4 representatives with Rutte in Ankara to discuss various issues on China, where it appears they also shared concerns over the SLBM launch.