The political scientist explained the intentions of the Japanese Prime Minister to refuse to participate in the NATO summit.

The US's Asian allies are taking a tactical pause amid geopolitical tensions. Yulia Kryachkina, an expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said this in an interview with Izvestia on June 23, commenting on Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's intentions to withdraw from the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25.

She clarified that the tension is largely due to the demands of Pentagon representatives for Asian allies to increase defense spending to 3.5-5%, which in the current conditions is unrealistic and does not meet the interests of Japan, South Korea and Australia.

"Tokyo refused to hold a meeting with American partners in the 2+2 format, which was scheduled for July 1. The Isiba cabinet does not particularly benefit from discussing US demands on the eve of the parliamentary elections in July," the expert explained.

Kryachkina also added that against the background of the worsening situation in the Middle East, the countries of the Asia-Pacific region are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards future negotiations with Washington. However, in her opinion, it is premature to talk about significant changes in the geopolitical situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, the political scientist stressed that the United States remains a key security partner for Japan and South Korea. Thus, Tokyo and Seoul are likely to look for ways out of this situation to maintain strategic cooperation with Washington.

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On the same day, NHK reported that Isiba plans to withdraw from the North Atlantic Alliance summit in The Hague due to the US attack on Iran's nuclear facility. Perhaps the country's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will attend the event instead.

The Politico newspaper said on June 21 that the program of the upcoming NATO summit does not include a meeting on conflicts in the Middle East.