Courtesy Call on Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio by a Delegation Led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senate
June 29, 2022
[Provisional translation]
On June 29, commencing at 10:40 a.m. (local time; same day, 5:40 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from a delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senate, while visiting Spain to attend a NATO Summit Meeting. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- Prime Minister Kishida, after expressing his intention to further strengthen cooperation with NATO, stated that Japan and the United States have taken the lead in implementing sanctions against Russia and providing support for Ukraine and expressed his respect for the important roles that U.S. Senators have been playing.
- Prime Minister Kishida also stated that the peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region is important for the international community and that, based on the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting last month, Japan will fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities and promote the boosting of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.
- In response, U.S. Senators made remarks regarding the support by the U.S. Congress for the Japan-U.S. alliance and the importance of Japan and the U.S. taking the lead in efforts to ensure the peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Furthermore, participants exchanged views regarding the issues related to China and North Korea and other matters.
[Reference] U.S. Senators who took part in the courtesy call
- (1) Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat–New Hampshire, currently serving her third term)
- (2) Senator Thom Tillis (Republican–North Carolina, currently serving his second term)
- (3) Senator Dick Durbin (Democrat–Illinois, currently serving his fifth term)
- (4) Senator Chris Coons (Democrat–Delaware, currently serving his third term)
- (5) Senator Roy Blunt (Republican–Missouri, currently serving his second term)
- (6) Senator Deb Fischer (Republican–Nebraska, currently serving her second term)
- (7) Senator Joni Ernst (Republican–Iowa, currently serving her second term)
