Juan Manuel Santos opened the dialogue by warning that the world is “going through very difficult times” and needs the sort of bold, values-based leadership that Japan can offer. He called on Tokyo to champion long-stalled Security Council reform, reinvigorate global climate action that has slipped down the agenda, and use its credibility to mediate flash-points such as India–Pakistan. Santos stressed that rallying the Global South behind these initiatives would amplify voices now “ignored or mistreated” in multilateral forums. Reported by Koki Imon. (15/5/2025)