Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was received by US President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a state visit that included a significant strengthening of defense relations against a resurgent China.
The ceremonial portion of the visit begins on Wednesday with a news conference in the Rose Garden and a gala dinner, reflecting the importance Washington places on Japan’s growing sense of self-confidence.
In order to improve defense collaboration for the first time since the 1960s, the two presidents are anticipated to present their plans to reorganize the US military command in Japan. This will enable them to better respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific area.
The first Japanese leader to be given full honors by a US president since Shinzo Abe in 2015, Kishida, 66, and his wife Yuko arrived at the White House on Tuesday night.
After that, Biden, 81, and First Lady Jill Biden brought the Japanese couple to a classy eatery in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Jill Biden said the visit would “celebrate the flourishing friendship between the United States and Japan.” “Our nations are partners in a world where we choose creation over destruction, peace over bloodshed, and democracy over autocracy,” she told reporters during a preview of Wednesday’s state dinner.
The Japanese visit highlights how crucial, in a more unpredictable world, Joe Biden views forging partnerships against nations like China, Russia, and Iran.
According to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the two presidents will “announce measures to enhance security cooperation, to enable greater coordination and integration of our forces.”
In an effort to strengthen ties with the Philippines, Japan, and the United States against China in a vital region, Biden will host the first-ever trilateral conference on Thursday.
However, the contentious issue of a Japanese purchase of US Steel—a deal that Biden is fighting against in his tough reelection campaign against protectionist former President Donald Trump—will be looming over the heads of both US and Japanese officials.
