As Kishida and Biden meet, what is the state of US-Japan relations?
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s first visit to Washington as leader on January 13, 2023 marked a major transformation in the US-Japan alliance. Japan’s new security reforms and Tokyo’s proactive response to the Ukraine crisis were warmly received in Washington. They highlight a more determined Japan to strengthen its own defense capabilities and contribute to regional deterrence, and reveal new potential for leveraging the bilateral partnership to address serious challenges to the international order. Not surprisingly, US-Japan relations moved apace in the weeks and days leading up to the Japanese leader’s arrival, with major policy announcements and bilateral agreements. InRead News