When President Joe Biden welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House on Wednesday for an official visit, a senior administration official told ABC News that the two countries will make “historic” announcements that will propel the U.S. alliance -Japanese towards “new heights”.
The official said the leaders would unveil more than 70 programs and initiatives. Many announcements will focus on deepening defense ties, strengthening cooperation between Japan and other allies, as well as new updates on Japan’s efforts to acquire Tomahawk land-attack missiles to the United States.
The summit is also expected to include measures that would allow countries to work on joint development — and potentially co-production — of vital military and defense equipment, according to Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in a speech last week.
There will also be new cooperation in the areas of space, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and climate change, the official said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shakes hands with President Joe Biden during a joint press conference at Camp David, August 18, 2023.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters, FILE
Ukraine and Gaza on the agenda
The leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
This visit highlights how the mutual threat from China, North Korea and Russia brings these two allies even closer together. Both countries want to deter China and prepare for any conflict that may arise. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made Japan even more worried about China’s attempts to take action on Taiwan.
A state visit is a huge honor, it signals to the world how close the relationship is and marks important milestones in the relationship.
Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr makes statements to the media at Parliament House in Canberra, February 29, 2024.
Alex Ellinghausen/Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images
The President of the Philippines will attend the summit
On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will join the two leaders for a summit.
The senior official said it was important for these leaders to stand “side by side” at a time when the Philippines faces “extraordinary pressure” from China in the South China Sea, with China engaging in “truly dangerous and illegal tactics” in recent months. »
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a group interview in Tokyo, Japan, April 5, 2024.
Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters
How did the state visit go?
Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden have met nearly a dozen times since Kishida took office about two and a half years ago. The manager says that they “have very warm personal and professional relationships”.
The official added that Biden and national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed interest in hosting Kishida after the president saw him at Camp David for the historic trilateral summit last August with the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The president, the official said, was “strong” in wanting to “honor a friend” who showed “courage” in resolving past tensions with North Korea, stepping up support for Ukraine, and some one who has “transgressed many conventions”. ” in Japanese politics and foreign policy, the official said.
ABC News
