TOKYO – In a significant move to bolster their strategic alliance, the United States and Japan will hold high-level security talks on July 28, with foreign and defence ministers from both nations set to discuss critical issues related to regional stability and defence cooperation.
The so-called “2+2” talks will bring together US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with their Japanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. The discussions aim to advance what US President Joe Biden has called a historic enhancement of the US-Japan alliance, originally established in 1951.
Central to the talks will be the concept of extended deterrence, wherein the US reassures Japan of its commitment to use nuclear and conventional forces to defend its allies. This meeting underscores the growing importance of this assurance amid increasing security threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to the “2+2” dialogue, Blinken will have a bilateral meeting with Kamikawa, while Austin will engage in a trilateral discussion with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. These meetings are expected to further align the three nations’ strategic objectives and enhance regional security cooperation.
The backdrop to these discussions is a series of initiatives announced in April by Tokyo and Washington, aimed at deepening their defence cooperation. This includes efforts to integrate their defence industries more closely and upgrade their military command structures to ensure better coordination in the face of potential threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.
“These historic 2+2 talks will mark a shift from merely protecting the alliance to actively projecting its power,” said US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
He elaborated on the transformation of the command structure of US forces in Japan, which will be synchronized with Japan’s upcoming launch of its joint command in March next year. “This will ensure that the alliance is not only robust but also agile enough to meet the security challenges of the Indo-Pacific for decades to come,” Emanuel added.
This meeting is seen as a crucial step in fortifying the US-Japan alliance, ensuring both nations are better prepared to handle the evolving security dynamics of the region. As both countries navigate these complexities, the outcomes of the talks on July 28 will likely shape the future trajectory of their bilateral relations and regional security posture.