Takeshi Iwaya

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (L) and Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) pose following a signing ceremony at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on Nov. 1, 2024.

Japan and the European Union announced a sweeping new security and defense partnership in Tokyo on Nov. 1, which EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hailed as a historic and "very timely" step.

Shigeru Ishiba became Japanese prime minister on Tuesday, seeking to restore the ruling party's popularity and tackle a demographic crisis, a lacklustre economy and fears over China's military build-up.

Rescue operations were underway Thursday for five US marines missing after two American military aircraft crashed during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, the Japanese defence minister said, reports AFP. 

One crew member has already been rescued and is thought to be in a stable condition, Takeshi Iwaya told reporters.