Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Protection Minister Yasukazu Hamada signed paperwork that can additional strengthen the U.S.-Japanese Safety Alliance in the present day on the Pentagon.
The 2 males met for bilateral talks prematurely of President Joe Biden assembly Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the White Home tomorrow. That assembly caps what some in Washington are calling the month of “Japanuary” the place leaders from each nations mentioned Japan’s new nationwide safety technique, nationwide protection technique and plans to double Japan’s protection spending by 2027.
Yesterday, Austin and Hamada joined Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese International Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi for the “2+2” talks.
“This 12 months is an inflection level for our nationwide safety and protection methods aligning nearer than ever,” Austin stated. “And with our shared objective of a brand new period of alliance modernization, I strongly assist Japan’s up to date nationwide safety insurance policies together with selections to extend protection spending [to acquiring] counterstrike capabilities.”
Austin stated he’s additionally happy with the historic determination to replace and modernize U.S. power posture in Japan “by ahead stationing extra versatile, cell and resilient capabilities.” The USA will station a Marine Littoral Regiment in Japan by 2025.
The strategic scenario is getting difficult, and Austin stated the US is anxious about China’s coercive conduct within the Taiwan Strait, and the waters surrounding Japan. North Korea’s persevering with provocations and outright flaunting of U.N. Safety Council Resolutions can be a priority. Russia’s “merciless, unprovoked and unjustifiable conflict of alternative” towards Ukraine has additionally modified the strategic calculus effectively past the theater of operations.
The U.S.-Japan Alliance “stays a cornerstone of peace and safety within the Indo-Pacific and past,” Austin stated. “I am inspired by the work we’re doing with our companions like Australia and the Republic of Korea. And I additionally wish to reaffirm our unwavering dedication to the protection of Japan, together with U.S. prolonged deterrence supplied by the complete vary of standard and nuclear capabilities.”
Austin and Hamada signed a bilateral Analysis, Growth, Check and Analysis Memorandum of Understanding and a bilateral, non-binding Safety of Provide Association.
The memo commits the 2 nations to work collectively on rising know-how to enhance protection capabilities, Austin stated. It will embody such applied sciences as high-power microwaves, autonomous techniques and counter-hypersonics.
The safety of provide association “will improve cooperation between our respective protection provide chains and construct vital linkages between our protection industrial bases,” Austin stated.