French President Emmanuel Macron has informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of his opposition to plans to set up a liaison office in Japan.

An official at France's presidential office told reporters on Friday that the "NA" of NATO stands for "North Atlantic".
The official noted that the articles of the alliance specify the geographical scope, which is the North Atlantic.

The official said France is not in favor of the idea for reasons of principle, and that Macron clearly expressed his opposition to Stoltenberg.

The official also said, "Regarding the office, the Japanese authorities have told us themselves that they are not very attached to it."

In an interview with a US TV station in May, Stoltenberg had revealed that NATO had been negotiating the setting up of a liaison office with the Japanese government.

He explained that it was part of NATO's efforts to increase cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Diplomatic sources told NHK that NATO leaders are expected to discuss the matter at an organizational summit which opens in Lithuania on Tuesday.

The opening of a new liaison office requires a unanimous agreement at the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal political decision-making body.

The sources say if France stands by its opposition, the feasibility of a new NATO office in Tokyo is slim.