Arab News Japan

TOKYO: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Japan’s Defense Minister HAMADA Yasukazu on Thursday that America’s commitment to providing extended deterrence to Japan, including nuclear capabilities, remains unwavering.

 

The two officials met in Tokyo for 75 minutes at Japan’s Ministry of Defense and reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening consultations to ensure that the extended deterrence of the United States remains credible and resilient.

 

They recognized that Japan’s decision to fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities, including counterstrike capabilities, strengthens the alliance and confirmed that it was also important to strengthen intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. 

 

They also discussed cooperation related to the possible joint development in a future interceptor against hypersonic technology, in addition to cooperation in unmanned aerial vehicles.

 

The Ministers welcomed the initiatives on US Forces realignment, including the controversial relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, as well as facility development of Mageshima island.

 

In other matters, the Ministers reconfirmed that they would maintain international order based on rules and confirmed that Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine is an outrage that shakes the foundation of the international order. They reaffirmed their commitment to providing maximum support for Ukraine.

 

In contrast to Russia, they affirmed the importance of having an open dialogue with China to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.