The United States and Japan reaffirmed the U.S. pledge to defend Japan by mobilizing its full-spectrum defense capabilities, including nuclear weapons, through the Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD), a regular consultative body involving diplomatic and defense officials.
On the 21st (local time), the U.S. State Department said in a news release that the two countries held the Extended Deterrence Dialogue on the 18th at the State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The meeting was co-chaired by the U.S. State Department and the Ministry of National Defense, and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, with officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of Japan and the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Strategic Command, and Indo-Pacific Command attending as delegations.
According to the State Department, the two countries advanced the joint resolve of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to further strengthen the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities.
The delegations reaffirmed the U.S. pledge to defend Japan through its full-spectrum defense capabilities, including nuclear weapons, and Japan's willingness to support U.S. operations to maintain peace, and agreed that the U.S. nuclear posture and policy, along with Japan's expanded investment in conventional defense capabilities, play a key role in deterring attacks and responding when necessary.
The two countries also discussed China's nuclear buildup and testing and Russia's noncompliance with arms control. The United States reaffirmed the need for multilateral strategic stability and arms control talks, and Japan emphasized the importance of participation by Russia and China.
In addition, the delegations discussed North Korea's progress in its nuclear and missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.