In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nanae Baldauff, Senior Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College, to explore Japan’s evolving national defence strategy and its growing role in regional and global security. Dr. Baldauff discusses Japan’s defence build-up, its alliance with the United States, and its expanding partnerships across the Indo-Pacific — including strategic ties with Canada and NATO. The conversation also delves into Japan’s relationship with Taiwan and examines possible scenarios in the event of a regional crisis, highlighting the complexities of deterrence and diplomacy in an increasingly tense strategic environment.