US President Joe Biden affirmed the United States' commitment to defending Japan by using all its capabilities, including nuclear ones.
And this is while receiving Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is visiting the United States for the first time since assuming power in October 2021.
A joint US-Japanese statement following the Biden-Kishida summit at the White House on Friday stated that the alliance of the two countries will remain a cornerstone for maintaining security and peace in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
The statement also stated that Biden and Kishida reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with Security Council resolutions, and their refusal to change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the world, and they also committed to continuing to impose sanctions on Russia and provide support to Ukraine.
For his part, the Japanese Prime Minister said that Washington and Tokyo are currently facing a difficult and complex environment, noting during his meeting with Biden that the new national security strategy developed by his country aims to ensure peace and prosperity in the region.
Strengthening alliances
Kishida's visit to the United States comes as part of a tour he is making in the G7 countries, which is chaired by Japan during the current year 2023. The group also includes Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada.
Reuters says that the tour of the Japanese prime minister aimed at strengthening long-term alliances, amid growing fears in Japan of increasing regional security threats from China, North Korea and Russia.
Last month, Japan revealed its largest military reinforcements since World War II, in a historic shift from the peaceful approach it has followed for 7 decades, a move fueled by fears of Chinese moves in the region, according to Reuters.
Japan's military reforms will increase defense spending to 2% of GDP, under which Japan will buy missiles that can hit ships or land targets a thousand kilometers away.