The Japanese Prime Minister begins his first state visit to the United States on Tuesday, with stops in Washington and North Carolina before returning to Japan on April 14. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden will announce on Wednesday the most significant overhaul of their security alliance since signing a mutual defense treaty in 1960.
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In a world in deep crisis which, according to the admissions of the Japanese Prime Minister, is at a “ historical turning point “, the priorities are to strengthen cooperation in defense and security and to maintain a free and open international order based on law. This is in essence the message that Fumio Kishida will deliver in his speech to the American Congress, the first after that of his late predecessor Shinzo Abe in 2015.
Japan and the UNITED STATES want to upgrade their security alliance in an archipelago that concentrates the largest American bases outside the United States. For the two allies, it is a question of strengthening cooperation in matters of command and authority, reports our correspondent in Tokyo, Frederic Charles. According to the newspaper Yomiuri, a permanent joint team of senior U.S. and Japanese military personnel could be established in Japan to ensure closer coordination between the two countries’ forces. Currently, Japan must deal with the US Indo-Pacific Command based in Hawaii, delaying decisions.
Countering Beijing’s military expansion
The objective is to counter China’s military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Japan has decided to double its military spending within five years in the event of an invasion of Taiwan by China. As a highlight of the meeting, Washington and Tokyo are expected to announce measures aimed at developing co-production of vital military and defense equipment and avoiding stock shortages.
Despite the constraints of its peaceful Constitution, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss with President Joe Biden Japan’s cooperation with the Aukus defense alliance bringing together the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. The first pillar of this alliance consists of equipping Australia with powerful nuclear-powered submarines. Japan could join the second pillar which concerns cyberwar, artificial intelligence and the development of long-range hypersonic missiles.
On Thursday, the United States and Japan will participate in a summit with the Philippines. This first trilateral summit will once again aim to strengthen cooperation between the three countries concerned about the rise in power of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
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