Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently delivered a significant speech to the U.S. Congress, defining Japan as a "global partner" of the United States, moving beyond being merely a regional ally. He emphasized the strong bond between the two nations and outlined Japan's commitment to enhancing national security measures, including increased defense spending and the acquisition of counterstrike capabilities.
In his address, Prime Minister Kishida distinguished his vision for the future from that of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, by focusing on building a forward-looking partnership with the United States. He expressed Japan's readiness to share the burden of upholding the international order based on freedom and democracy, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, while also highlighting concerns about maintaining security if the U.S. adopts an "America First" approach under a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. Kishida's speech underlined Japan's willingness to support the United States in facing strategic challenges posed by nations with differing values, notably China, while reinforcing the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and their role in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue alongside Australia and India.