Shinzo Abe Assassination Sparks Debate on Western Leaders' Security

Shinzo Abe sets the path: who would be the next target?

What happens when a former prime minister receives two bullets in the street and the whole world wonders who comes next? The assassination of Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan, triggered a cascade of speculation about the security of Western leaders and the true reasons behind the attack. The starting point is uncomfortable: Abe had been out of power for two years, resigned in 2020 for health reasons, and his formal influence was minimal. Nevertheless, his name remained linked to the 2030 Agenda, international economic forums, and agreements signed with the European Commission, according to claims by some participants. The question hovering over the matter is not who killed him, but how well protected those holding similar positions are.

Western leaders' security, in question

The debate about protecting high-ranking officials is not new, but the Abe case put it on the table with harshness. A former president or prime minister maintains an acompañante, but rarely the deployment of an active head of state. This opens a window of vulnerability that some analyses consider evident. Those supporting this thesis point out that current measures are insufficient to prevent a similar attack. Against this weighs the argument that Japan is a country with an extremely low violent crime rate and that the attack was an isolated case.

The discussion shifted towards a comparison between countries. Some claim that European leaders circulate with less protection than they would have in other contexts and that a determined attacker could bypass current devices. The list of names appearing in the predictions includes several former European presidents and high-ranking officials, although there is no objective data allowing for the establishment of a real risk ranking.

Who was on the list and why?

The poll accompanying the debate proposes a list of names to theorize about. Among them appear former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative Josep Borrell, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and several other leaders. Most answers agree that none of them generate sympathy and that the order of the list is of little consequence.

There is a striking point of consensus: the idea that the attack on Abe was not the act of a lone wolf. Part of the messages point to deeper interests behind it, although they provide no concrete evidence. Another part recalls that Abe was a conservative and nationalist politician, a denier of Japan's crimes in World War II, and that his agenda did not fit with the globalist circles attributed to him.

Article 9 and the hypothesis of forced resignation

One of the most repeated arguments relates to Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits the country from maintaining an army and resorting to war. Abe had announced his intention to convene a referendum to repeal it, but resigned before doing so, citing health problems. Those defending this line maintain that his departure was not voluntary and that his death is the result of a political settlement.

The opposing hypothesis is simpler: Abe no longer had real power, his influence was limited, and the attack was the work of an individual with personal motives. The available data does not allow confirming either version. What is clear is that the debate on the security of leaders and international agendas remains open.

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In the end, the question is not who will be next, but whether anyone is truly safe. And that, with or without a pin from the 2030 Agenda, still has no answer.