Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, marking their first encounter since Ishiba assumed his position. The discussion reportedly focused on the importance of enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.
Following their meeting, Emanuel spoke to reporters, describing their conversation as “very positive and strong.” He emphasized that the U.S.-Japan alliance serves as a foundation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Both parties expressed their desire to maintain the current momentum in bilateral relations.
Ishiba has previously expressed his intention to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and advocated for an Asian equivalent of NATO, which has garnered attention both domestically and internationally.
The meeting between Ishiba and Emanuel appears to underscore that there is no change in policy regarding strengthening the alliance between Japan and the United States.
