As per the historic agreement, the United States, Japan and Australia will create a joint air defence network. Other than this, several new initiatives were announced that were aimed a deepening defence and intelligence cooperation between the two nations.
“Together, our countries are taking significant steps to strengthen defence security cooperation,” Biden said during the joint press conference with Kishida at the White House Rose Garden.
“We’re modernizing command and control structures. And we’re increasing the interoperability and planning of our militaries so they can work together in a seamless and effective way. This is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established,” he added.
A defence to China’s growing influence in the region
The announcement of several new defence initiatives came amid increasing concerns over China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
The two world leaders maintained that the alliance between the two countries would be “purely defensive” in nature. “Our alliance we have with Japan is purely defensive in nature,” Biden said.
“It’s a defensive alliance. And the things we discuss today improve our cooperation and are purely about defence and readiness. It’s not aimed at any one nation or a threat to the region, and it doesn’t have anything to do with conflict,” he added.
The POTUS also informed that Washington is “exploring ways” how Tokyo can join the works of the AUKUS alliance – the Biden-era trilateral defence partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Decades-long US-Japan ties continue to grow
During the joint press conference, the American commander-in-chief also announced that two Japanese astronauts would join the American space missions. One of them is also expected to be the first non-American to land on the moon’s surface.
Before the joint presser, the Biden and Kishida met at the White House on Wednesday. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will be hosting the Japanese premier at a state dinner to recognise the decades-long relationship between Washington and Tokyo.
“President Eisenhower said his goal was to establish an indestructible partnership between our countries,” Biden said. “Today, the world can see, that goal has been achieved, and that partnership between us is unbreakable,” he added.
Meanwhile, the details of an enhanced military partnership will be worked out by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Japanese counterpart in the next several months.
While the two nations continue to bolster their ties, Philippines President Bongbong Marcos will join them for a three-way summit on Thursday (local time). One of the goals of this summit will be underscoring global coordination in the face of increased hostility in the region from China.
