The security environment since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States has clearly demonstrated the limits of the United Nations, or even the US as the world’s sole military superpower, to maintain international security. However, like-minded mid-level powers with similar intentions could complement what the UN or the US lacks, effectively generating sufficient clout to stabilize the global security environment.
Japan, Australia, Germany, or Canada might be just such powers. They share common values as free and democratic countries. Moreover, they are non-nuclear powers with no permanent seats in the UN Security Council. All are long time allies of the US. In fact, over recent years these countries have already had many opportunities to demonstrate their ability and willingness to contribute to international security if called for, for they all also share a recognition that global stability directly serves their own national interests.
Nevertheless, subtle differences among these countries may influence their bilateral cooperation or coordination with the UN or the US. As a result, they must compliment each other’s advantages, characteristics, and interests in order to optimize their role in promoting international security.
For many years, Japan has been taking very cautious steps into this area, but substantial changes have occurred recently. In March 2007, Japan agreed to enter a “semi-alliance with Australia, and issued a “Joint Communiqué on Japan-Australia Security Cooperation. In early June, the two countries’ defense and foreign ministers held the first regular security meeting (the so-called “2+2 meeting ) in Tokyo, agreeing to promote defense cooperation in various fields, including international security.
Under Japan’s last two prime ministers, Japan has steadily been making practical contributions to the stabilization of the international security environment as a way to benefit its national and international interests. Japan is thus helping to create conditions to allow mid-level powers to act jointly and effectively to provide an essential international “public good.
Such practical proposals address key global issues, including international terrorism, strengthening of mechanisms for arms control, arms reduction, and non-proliferation, efforts to contain attempts by North Korea and Iran to develop nuclear weapons, encouraging transparency in China’s military, restraining Russia’s imperial ambitions, and building a global ballistic missile defense network against missiles that could be launched by rogue regimes.
However, efforts to promote this kind of cooperation should not be confined to these mid-level powers. There are many other potential mid-level democratic countries that should take part. Various approaches may be available for building a coalition of such powers, including the use of the UN and seeking to influence US foreign policy.
To advance such efforts, it may be necessary for mid-level powers such as Japan, Canada, Australia, and Germany to strengthen ties with other like-minded mid-level countries that possess nuclear weapons and hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council, such as the United Kingdom and France, or with smaller nuclear powers without permanent Security Council seats, such as India.
Once such a coalition gains a sure footing, the next step would be to participate actively in the negotiation of major security issues, such as international arms control, arms reduction, and non-proliferation, while encouraging the involvement of China and Russia. The goal should be to build and exercise influence within the international community to the point that the coalition becomes tantamount to a permanent “sixth member of the Security Council.
Hideaki Kaneda, a retired Vice Admiral and a former chief of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, is Director of the Okazaki Institute, Tokyo. This commentary is published by DAILY NEWS EGYPT in collaboration with Project Syndicate.
