United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan applauded Japan's new national defense strategy on Friday after the east Asian country approved a new national security strategy after nearly a decade since introducing it.
Sullivan said Japan had taken a "bold and historic step to strengthen and defend the free and open Indo-Pacific." The news reflects recent talks between the two nations around strengthening their security alliance in the midst of threats from China and North Korea. "Japan's goal to significantly increase defense investments will also strengthen and modernize the US-Japan alliance," Sullivan continued.
Following Japan's approval of the new strategy, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed he "will resolutely fulfill his mission as the prime minister to protect and defend the nation." Among key measures, the Japanese government announced investments in its military counterstrike capabilities as well as doubling defense spending to 2% of the country's gross domestic product.
