Nikkei wrote that Prime Minister Abe held a 30-minute meeting with Secretary of the National Security Council of Russia Patrushev, who is regarded as a close aide to President Putin, at the Kantei on Tuesday. According to the paper, the premier reportedly told the Russian official that it is important for the two nations to deepen security cooperation and mutual understanding.

Yomiuri wrote that Secretary General Kitamura of the National Security Secretariat held separate talks with Patrushev, speculating that the two security officials discussed the Russian military’s increasing activities near the Northern Territories and Japan’s planned deployment of the Aegis Ashore system.