Ishiba's NATO would combine a collection of existing diplomatic and security pacts, including the Quad grouping - Japan, the U.S., Australia and India - the AUKUS agreement of Canberra, Washington and London, and Japan's deepening security cooperation with neighbour and rival Seoul.

Japan’s ruling party picked Shigeru Ishiba as its next leader, positioning an advocate of an “Asian NATO” to become prime minister in a move that risks further increasing tensions with China.

Shigeru Ishiba will become Japan’s next prime minister after he was elected as the new leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday. He replaces Fumio Kishida, who unexpectedly announced in August that he would not run again,

HELSINKI (Reuters) - NATO will set up a new land command in Finland near the Russian border next year, tasked with leading the alliance's land force operations in northern Europe in the event of a military conflict, the Finnish defence minister said on Friday.

On Friday, the head of Finland's defence ministry announced that a new NATO land command would be established at the General Staff of the Finnish Armed Forces in Mikkeli. According to Hakkinen, this decision aims to strengthen the defence of Finland and the entire Northern European region.

On Friday, the head of Finland's defense ministry announced that a new NATO land command will be established at the General Staff of the Finnish Armed Forces in Mikkeli. According to Hakkinen, this decision aims to strengthen the defense of Finland and the entire Northern European region.