Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting

On November 13, commencing at 2:55 p.m. (local time. 4:55 p.m., Japan time.), for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who is visiting Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to attend the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings, held a meeting with the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States of America. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the outset, the two leaders shared the recognition that the security environment surrounding us is becoming increasingly severe due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, North Korea’s repeated provocative actions, and continuing unilateral attemtps to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. They then shared the recognition that the strong Japan-U.S. relationship has a significant role to play in regional peace and stability and beyond, and concurred to work together to ensure peace and prosperity in the region and the international community, by further strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and promoting efforts to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

2. The two leaders exchanged their views on regional issues.
(1) The two leaders concurred to continue close coordination between Japan and the U.S. in addressing various issues related to China. They also confirmed the importance of peace and stability in the region.

(2) The two leaders concurred that North Korea’s ballistic missile launches in an unprecedented frequency and manner are absolutely unacceptable, and confirmed their commitment to continue close coordination between Japan and the U.S. as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the UNSCRs. Prime Minister Kishida also asked for continued understanding and cooperation of the U.S. for the resolution of the abductions issue, and gained full support from President Biden.

(3) The two leaders, regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, confirmed their commitment to impose strong sanctions against Russia and to support Ukraine, in solidarity with the G7 and other like-minded countries, while further reaching out to the Global South. They also confirmed that they have a serious concern about Russia’s nuclear threat, which is absolutely unacceptable, let alone the use of such weapons.

3. Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan is in the process of formulating a new national security strategy by the end of this year amid the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan. Prime Minister Kishida reiterated his determination to fundamentally reinforce Japan’s defense capabilities and to secure a substantial increase of defense budget needed to effect it, which received strong support from President Biden.

4. While welcoming the progress made on the IPEF and the economic “2+2,” the two leaders shared the recognition that engagement of the U.S. in the economic order and economic security in the region is becoming increasingly important. Prime Minister Kishida urged the U.S. to return to the TPP at an early time. Prime Minister Kishida also conveyed Japan's thoughts on the U.S. credits for clean vehicles.

5. The two leaders concurred to continue close coordination between Japan and the U.S. toward the success of the G7 Hiroshima Summit Meeting in 2023.