Japan and Southeast Asian Countries: Cooperation in Maritime Security

The purpose of this study is to identify the mechanisms, priorities, and outcomes of Japan’s cooperation with Southeast Asian (SEA) countries in the area of maritime security. The key question is whether Japan’s actions contribute to the formation of sustainable regional security architecture. The article is based on the analysis of the results of the Russian and foreign researchers as well as the data and documents on focused problem. The study’s findings demonstrate that Japan has consistently shifted the focus of cooperation from humanitarian aid to operational interaction, combining bilateral ties, institutional interaction, and minilateral formats to maintain room for maneuver amidst rising geopolitical tensions.