Saturday’s Sankei reported that it learned from several senior GOJ officials on Friday that Prime Minister Kishida is making arrangements to attend the NATO Summit slated for June 29 and 30 in Madrid. The paper said this will be the first time for a Japanese prime minister to attend a NATO Summit. Although Japan is not a member of NATO, Kishida is reportedly hoping to confirm unity with his U.S. and European counterparts in responding not only to Russia but also to China, which is stepping up its military pressure in the East and South China Seas. The paper said the premier is planning to attend the G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau, Germany, from June 26 to 28 and then fly to Madrid for the NATO Summit. The daily wrote that although some within the GOJ had been cautious about the idea of Kishida attending the NATO Summit as the dates of the summit overlap with the official campaign period for the Upper House election in July, the GOJ decided it would be significant for Kishida to attend and strengthen close cooperation with the U.S. and European leaders.