Japan To Send Officers to NATO Mission Coordinating Military Aid to Ukraine for First Time

For the first time, Japan will send four Self-Defense Forces officers to participate in the NATO NSATU mission, which coordinates military aid and training for Ukrainian troops.

This was reported by the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

“Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force Arai, based on the understanding that the security of Europe and the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific region are inextricably linked, called on service members to proudly carry out their duties, drawing on the experience gained in the Self-Defense Forces,” — stated the Ground Self-Defense Force.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will continue to contribute to improving the international security environment through the development of cooperation between Japan and NATO, as well as by dispatching personnel to the NSATU.

The officers — two from the Ground Self-Defense Force and one each from the Air and Maritime Self-Defense Forces — will work with other military personnel to coordinate the supply of equipment and training for the Ukrainian military, as well as serve as liaison officers with partner countries.

Japan first expressed interest in joining the contingent of up to 700 personnel in April 2025 under then-Defense Minister Gen Nakatani during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The NATO Security Assistance and Training Organization for Ukraine (NSATU), headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, was established in July 2024.

It comprises approximately 700 military personnel from Alliance member and partner countries, including personnel stationed at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium and at logistics bases in Poland and Romania.

According to The Japan Times, Japan first expressed interest in joining the mission in April 2025 during a meeting between then-Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The mission commander reports directly to the Commander of US Forces in Europe. It also includes an existing US group stationed in Wiesbaden that works on supplying weapons and training personnel.

Within NATO, the NSATU mission is referred to as merely “one of NATO’s pillars of support for Ukraine.” The second “pillar of support” is JATEC in Poland (JATEC — Analysis, Training, and Education Centre).

This center allows Ukraine to share the experience it has gained during the Russia-Ukraine war and provides the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the opportunity to learn and train side by side with Alliance partners.

In February 2026, it was reported that Japan was preparing to join the PURL initiative to procure US-made equipment for Ukraine. At the same time, as NATO officials stated at the time, the Japanese side would provide funding exclusively for non-lethal defense equipment. As of late April, negotiations regarding its contribution were still ongoing.