Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has emphasized the fundamental strengthening of Japan's defense capabilities during a rare meeting with Self-Defense Forces senior commanders, marking the first such face-to-face gathering in six years. Ishiba called for an effective defense force structure, including unified command across land, sea, and air forces, to address regional security challenges posed by military developments in China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran's nuclear program. Concurrently, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya conveyed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Japan will independently determine the scope and scale of its defense enhancements, rejecting external pressure to increase defense spending. This stance was reiterated by Ishiba in multiple statements, affirming that Japan will decide on any defense budget increases on its own judgment despite U.S. calls for higher military expenditure, including Pentagon recommendations for defense spending at 5% of GDP. On the diplomatic front, Ishiba held a summit with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Tokyo, where both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on security, trade, cybersecurity, and maritime issues. The visit also highlighted expanding Japanese corporate presence in Ireland, particularly in IT, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Additionally, Ishiba communicated with astronaut Takuya Onishi aboard the International Space Station, encouraging his leadership and contributions to human progress. Meanwhile, Ireland's Minister for Enterprise expressed cautious optimism about a potential US-EU tariff agreement expected by July 9, amid ongoing trade uncertainties affecting Ireland's budget planning.