Japan-Latin America Relations: Then & Now
After decades of engagement with Latin America, Japan is looking to deepen and expand relations.
After decades of engagement with Latin America, Japan is looking to deepen and expand relations.
For decades, Japan has been an important trading partner, lender, investor, and provider of official development assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Although growth is slowing on both sides of the Pacific, Japan would appear committed to continued economic engagement with the region.
On October 17, the Inter-American Dialogue, JALAC, COMEXI, COMCE, and the Embassy of Japan in Mexico, held a public meeting to examine developments in Japan’s long-standing relationship with Mexico.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono visited Latin America Aug. 11-19, with stops in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Mexico. Kono’s priorities during the trip were strengthening economic cooperation and trade ties with the region, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and seeking support on diplomatic issues, including those related to North Korea, NHK reported. What did he accomplish during his tour? Where are Japan-Latin America relations headed? Does Japan have a clear and coherent strategy in Latin America? Which sectors and countries in the region are of greatest importance for Japan, and what is driving that interest?
Japan is upgrading its relations with Latin America with a focus on innovation, sustainable infrastructure and value chain development.
Japan has launched a new phase in its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Enhanced Japan-US collaboration would do much to advance the delivery of information and communications technology platforms across the region.
Japan has a critical role to play in Latin America’s post-Covid-19 recovery.
On December 16, the Inter-American Dialogue, in partnership with the Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean, held a public meeting titled “Toward Pandemic Recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean—Exploring New Dimensions of Japan-US-LAC Interregional Cooperation,” to consider prospects for enhanced Latin American, Caribbean, Japanese, and US collaboration in support of regional recovery and sustainable development.
Representatives from the Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean consider prospects for enhanced Japanese engagement with Central America and the Caribbean.
Central America and the Caribbean are receiving more attention from Japan, whether at the policy level or among Japan’s private sector.
On December 1, 2022, the Inter-American Dialogue, East Consulting, and Cámara de Comercio Peruano-China cohosted a webinar titled “Grading the Pacific Alliance—What Progress on Cross-Pacific Economic Connectivity?” This event considered emerging developments within the Pacific Alliance, the bloc’s cross-Pacific engagement with Asia, and the level of Asian overseas investment in Pacific Alliance member nations.
“Building Economic Resilience—Japan’s Evolving Approach to Engagement with Latin America” was the ninth in a series of Inter-American Dialogue-JALAC events considering Japan’s evolving approach to engagement with the Latin American region.