Japan’s foreign minister to tour Mexico, South American countries

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi attends a House of Representative committee session on Oct. 13.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is set to visit four countries in North and South America in early January, according to government sources.

He will likely visit Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru.

Hayashi reportedly aims to call for closer ties with these countries with an eye on coping with the situation in Ukraine, where Russia continues its military aggression.

With Ukraine in mind, Hayashi hopes to share his view that unilaterally changing of the status quo by force must not be allowed.

He will also underline the importance of “a free and open Indo-Pacific.”