Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara for a Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting and an Extended Deterrence Dialogue in Tokyo on July 28. Secretary Austin also joined Defense Minister Kihara and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik for a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting. Secretary Blinken joined his Australian, Indian, and Japanese counterparts for a Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on July 29.
Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting and Extended Deterrence Dialogue
STATEMENTS
Joint Statement – 2+2
Recognizing the profound level of global threats to our Alliance’s shared vision and common values, the Ministers affirmed the enduring U.S. and Japanese commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in upholding and protecting the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and to redouble our work with allies and partners in furtherance of this goal. The Ministers reiterated the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
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Joint Statement – Extended Deterrence
The Ministers reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to close consultations on U.S. nuclear policy and posture, as well as the relationship between nuclear and non-nuclear military matters within the Alliance. They reaffirmed their intent to continue discussions on both countries’ deterrence capabilities and measures.
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Joint Press Conference
“Today’s meeting delivered on commitments that President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida made during the prime minister’s state visit to Washington in April, modernizing our alliance for the future. Just over the last 36 hours, we have a number of firsts, and these firsts are going to have a qualitative impact on our alliance – on its strength, on its fitness for purpose.”
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FACT SHEET
Fact Sheet – 2+2
During the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting on July 28, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and Japan Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko resolved to enhance U.S.-Japan Alliance deterrence and response capabilities to uphold the free and open rules-based international order.
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REMARKS
Foreign and Defense Ministerial 2+2 Meeting
“This is an opportunity with the 2+2 to assess progress in fulfilling the commitments that our leaders made during Prime Minister Kishida’s visit in April. I think it’s fair to say that we are confronted by in some ways unprecedented challenges, but we also have an alliance that is more than ready to tackle them.”
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Extended Deterrence Dialogue
“Given the challenging security environment, strengthening nuclear deterrence has taken on greater importance. These discussions bolster our ability to extend the record of nuclear non-use that has lasted for nearly 80 years.”
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Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin’s Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida
“Well, Prime Minister Kishida, thank you so much for receiving us today, and thank you and your entire team for the exceptional 2+2 that we held yesterday. I think it is very safe to report that our alliance is stronger than it’s ever been.”
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Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa
“Well, thank you so much, and it’s always for me wonderful to be in Japan, to be in Tokyo, and to be with my friend and colleague the foreign minister.”
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United States – Japan – Republic of Korea Trilateral
Joint Statement – U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral
Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, United States (U.S.) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik convened a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on July 28, 2024, in Japan for the first time in history.
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United States – Japan Defense Ministerial Meeting
Readout
Secretary Austin reaffirmed the unwavering and ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, which is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The two officials underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen the U.S.-Japan Alliance toward a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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United States – Republic of Korea Defense Ministerial Meeting
Joint Press Release, United States and Republic of Korea
Minister Shin and Secretary Austin affirmed that the ROK-U.S. Alliance is stronger than ever, and they pledged to continue efforts to enhance the Alliance’s contributions to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
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Quad Foreign Ministerial Meeting
Joint Statement
We reaffirm the Quad’s steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient, and are united in our commitment to upholding the free and open rules-based international order, with its strong support for the principle of freedom, human rights, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with the UN Charter.
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REMARKS
Joint Remarks to the Press
“Now, our four countries are home to nearly 2 billion people. We have a combined GDP of nearly $35 trillion. We’re responsible for about 30 percent of the global foreign direct investment stock. We are committed to putting our collective resources, our collective strengths to work to benefit people across the region that we share.”
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NEC Future Creation Hub
Secretary Blinken’s Remarks to the Press
“Well, good morning, everyone. It’s been a great pleasure to be here at NEC to see the extraordinary work that NEC does, but also the extraordinary collaboration that we’ve had between the United States and NEC and between the United States and Japan.”
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