Japan's Foreign Ministry will establish a new office by the end of March next year to mediate peace between third countries. The initiative aligns with a coalition agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party. It aims to provide seamless assistance from mediation to post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.
Japan's Foreign Ministry plans to establish a new office by the end of March 2026 dedicated to mediating peace between third countries, sources indicated on Tuesday. The office, likely under the ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau, will facilitate comprehensive support ranging from conflict mediation to post-war recovery and reconstruction.
This development follows a coalition agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai. The agreement describes the office as "a new diplomatic tool to build peace in the international community."
At a news conference on December 17, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara highlighted the increasing need for prompt conflict resolution through peace mediation, referencing the situation in Gaza. "It's beneficial to create an office that will serve as a cross-departmental coordinator utilizing insights from (the ministry's) respective regional affairs bureaus, which have connections with stakeholders in conflicts," Kihara stated.
A government source noted, "Japan can play a special role," while cautioning that "mediation is not easy." The initiative underscores Japan's intent to enhance its diplomatic contributions amid global tensions.
