Japan-France Relationship under Abe: An Analysis of Security Trends for the Indo-Pacific Region

Since the Meiji Restoration, Japan and France have experienced a special relationship led by strong cultural economic ties. The present paper analyses their during second administration of former prime minister Japan, Abe Shinzō. focuses on respective security trends. Security is studied as a(n inter-)subjective dynamic process. For this reason, Copenhagen School’s ‘securitisation’ will serve theoretical framework to investigate discursive material practices both nations. article has two complementary goals. First, it studies whether what extent securitised issues securitising moves converge approach Indo-Pacific region. To end, extensively examines official documents speeches governments, including Japan’s annual ‘White Paper’ ‘Diplomatic Bluebook’, France’s strategic documents. Second, examining transformations mutual relations, investigates improved synergy, especially in defense domain, Abe’s administration. concludes that similar view environment and, for they share concerns interests. result was an improvement relations which became increasingly more symbiotic towards