The security environment since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US demonstrates the limits of the ability of the UN and the US -- the world's sole military superpower -- to maintain international security. However, like-minded middle-level powers with similar intentions could complement what the UN or the US lacks, effectively generating sufficient clout to stabilize the global security environment.
Japan, Australia, Germany and Canada may be just such powers. They share common values as free and democratic countries. Moreover, they are non-nuclear powers with no permanent seats on the UN Security Council.
All are long time allies of the US and in recent years have had many opportunities to demonstrate their ability and willingness to contribute to international security if called upon. They all also share a recognition that global stability directly serves their own national interests.
Nevertheless, subtle differences among these countries may influence their bilateral cooperation or coordination with the UN or the US. As a result, they must compliment each other's advantages, characteristics and interests in order to optimize their role in promoting international security.
For years, Japan has taken only cautious steps into this area. However, in March Japan agreed to enter an alliance with Australia and issued a Communique on Japan-Australia Security Cooperation.
In early June, the two countries' defense and foreign ministers held the first regular security meeting, the so-called two-plus-two meeting in Tokyo, agreeing to promote defense cooperation in various fields, including international security.
Under Japan's last two prime ministers, the country has steadily been making practical contributions to the stabilization of the international security environment as a way to benefit its national and international interests. Japan is thus helping to create conditions to allow middle-level powers to act jointly and effectively to provide an essential international "public good."
Such practical proposals address key global issues, including international terrorism; strengthening of mechanisms for arms control, arms reduction and non-proliferation; efforts to contain attempts by North Korea and Iran to develop nuclear weapons; encouraging transparency in China's military; restraining Russia's imperial ambitions and building a global ballistic missile defense network against missiles that could be launched by rogue regimes.
However, efforts to promote this kind of cooperation should not be confined to these middle-level powers. There are many other potential middle-level democratic countries that should take part. Various approaches may be available for building a coalition of such powers, including the use of the UN and seeking to influence US foreign policy.
To advance such efforts, Japan, Canada, Australia and Germany could strengthen ties with other like-minded middle-level countries that possess nuclear weapons and hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council, such as the UK and France, or with smaller nuclear powers without permanent Security Council seats like India.
Once such a coalition gains a sure footing, the next step would be to participate actively in the negotiation of major security issues such as international arms control, arms reduction and non-proliferation, while encouraging the involvement of China and Russia. The goal should be to build and exercise influence within the international community to the point that the coalition becomes tantamount to a permanent "sixth" member of the UN Security Council.
Hideaki Kaneda is a retired vice admiral and former chief of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and is director of the Okazaki Institute in Tokyo.
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