Khaldon Azhari Tokyo 

Japan and the US have started a bilateral Extended Deterrence Dialogue in Tokyo that will continue for three days, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

“The dialogue provides an opportunity for the two governments to frankly exchange views on how to enhance alliance deterrence as part of their security and defense cooperation,” the ministry added.

It said through this dialogue, the government of Japan, a recipient of US extended deterrence, can deepen its understanding of American deterrence policy and bilateral coordination in an increasingly complex security environment.

The Japanese side is represented by Yutaka Arima, deputy director general of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Foreign Ministry, and Takeshi Ishikawa, deputy director general of the Defense Policy Bureau at the Defense Ministry.

The US side is represented by Tom DiNanno, senior bureau official of the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance at the State Department, and Dr. Robert Soofer, deputy assistant secretary of defense, nuclear and missile defense policy at the Defense Department.

The two governments have long been discussing deterrence issues at various forums, and the Extended Deterrence Dialogue has been held regularly since 2010.

Japan depends on US nuclear deterrence, known as the nuclear umbrella, in the face of what Tokyo considers a possible threat from nuclear countries in the region.