International Exchange
To Cultivate Indo-Pacific Regional Cooperation
In recent years, international exchange has been rapidly expanding. As an institution that plays a role in the Ministry of Defense’s defense exchanges and security dialogues, and as a member of the regional security community, NIDS contributes to improving the security environment and further stabilizing the region.
As a security think tank, NIDS actively promotes research meetings and exchanges of views with security and defense research institutions in various countries through regular reciprocal visits and other activities.
As the equivalent of a national defense university, NIDS undertakes such activities as conducting lectures through the mutual exchange of researchers as lecturers, reciprocal visits by overseas study groups from educational programs, and participation in multilateral meetings attended by the heads of national defense universities.
NIDS also frequently receives visits from high-level government and military officials from other countries, including Ministers of Defense, Chiefs of Staff, and Presidents of national defense universities.
In addition, NIDS invites overseas researchers and experts to serve as lecturers for research meetings or to join the institute as visiting fellows. Its own researchers travel abroad for research trips, participation in international conferences, and overseas research, thereby enhancing the quality of the institute’s research and building networks.
Drawing on its accumulated research achievements and the expertise of its researchers, NIDS is able to engage in deep and substantive exchanges. At the same time, research meetings and international conferences organized by NIDS, grounded in policy research, also contribute to policy formulation.
Participation in Multilateral Meetings Attended by the Heads of Defense Universities
Since the first meeting in 1997, NIDS has participated annually as a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defense Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (ARF HDUCIM). The fifth meeting, held in Tokyo in 2001, was hosted by NIDS. In addition, since 2009, NIDS has also participated in the NATO Conference of Commandants (NATO CoC).
Research Exchanges and Mutual Exchange of Lecturers
United States
To help strengthen cooperation in the field of security policy with its ally, the United States, NIDS engages in research exchanges with the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at the National Defense University. NIDS also regularly engages in discussions and research meetings with experts from U.S. government agencies, think tanks, and universities.
Republic of Korea
Together with the Korea National Defense University (KNDU) and the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), NIDS mutually exchanges researchers as lecturers, holds research meetings, and organizes visits by study groups. NIDS also conducts exchanges on military history research with the Institute for Military History at the Ministry of National Defense.
China
NIDS works with the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University (PLA NDU) to mutually exchange researchers as lecturers, hold research meetings, and organize visits by study groups. In addition, based on the joint press announcement of the Japan–China Defense Ministerial Meeting in 2009, NIDS has been working to strengthen exchanges with the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Science (PLA AMS), the highest-level research institution of the PLA.
Australia
With the Australian Defence College (ADC) and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), NIDS has mutually conducted research meetings, exchanged researchers as lecturers, organized visits by study groups, and hosted visiting fellows. NIDS has also undertaken joint research with the Australian National University (ANU). As Japan–Australia relations in the field of security policy have developed, ties in research and exchange have also been strengthened.
Southeast Asia
With the aim of deepening mutual understanding and trust regarding the security challenges faced by Southeast Asian countries, NIDS conducts exchanges with research institutions affiliated with ministries of defense, as well as private research institutions. Exchanges were launched with the Institute for Defense International Relations (IDIR) at the Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense in 2010, and with the National Defence College of Myanmar in 2013.
India and Pakistan
NIDS conducts exchanges with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in India. These exchanges are carried out as part of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India, agreed by the leaders of both countries in 2008, and the Memorandum on Defence Cooperation and Exchanges between the Ministry of Defense of Japan and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India, concluded in 2014. NIDS also began exchanges with the National Defence University of Pakistan in 2012.
Middle East
In 2014, NIDS began exchanges with national defense universities and research institutions in Middle Eastern countries which, since the “Arab Spring,” have faced increasing fluidity and instability, and in recent years, the growing threat of Islamist extremist groups such as the Islamic State.
Mongolia
In 2014, NIDS began exchanges with the Mongolian National Defence University. In addition to its Institute for Defense Studies (IDS), NIDS also has exchanges with the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS).
Russia
NIDS works with the Center for Military and Strategic Studies of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces to mutually exchange researchers as lecturers and hold research meetings.
Europe
NIDS conducts reciprocal visits of researchers and study groups, as well as exchanges of views and research meetings, with numerous security research and educational institutions in Europe. In recent years, it has undertaken joint research with the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the United Kingdom, co-hosting workshops and publishing reports. In addition, following initiatives to strengthen security cooperation between Japan and NATO—exemplified by the Joint Political Declaration issued in 2013 by then Prime Minister Abe and then NATO Secretary General Rasmussen—NIDS has begun exchanges with the NATO Defense College.
Canada
NIDS began exchanges with Canada in 2010, primarily with the Royal Military College (RMC). It also maintains exchanges with other institutions, such as the Canadian Forces College (CFC).
Hosting International Conferences
NIDS hosts annual international conferences on security and military history. A distinctive feature of these conferences is that they address not only academic themes but also a broad range of timely topics, including international and regional issues as well as policy challenges.
International Symposium on Security Affairs
The symposium began in 1985 as the International Roundtable Meeting and was renamed to its current title in 1999. It is the largest international conference hosted by NIDS. Each year, distinguished experts from Japan and abroad are invited to deliver lectures and presentations and to participate in panel discussions. As a public symposium, it attracts a diverse audience ranging from government and military officials to researchers, specialists, members of the media, and the general public. This event plays an important role in promoting a broader understanding of security issues.
Colloquium on International Security
Since 1999, NIDS has hosted the Colloquium on International Security, an annual research forum that brings together distinguished experts from abroad and specialists from the Ministry of Defense for high-level, specialized discussions.
International Forum on War History
The International Forum on War History was launched in 2002 with the aim of reexamining war history from multiple perspectives. It serves as a venue for researchers from various countries to present their findings, exchange knowledge, and foster mutual trust.
For details on each session, please refer to the “Events” section.
