The United States and Japan launched the inaugural Japan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue (ESD) on December 1-2. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt met with Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Director General MINAMI Ryo on December 1, and separately with Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General NAMAZU Hiroyuki on December 2. Our two nations affirmed that the U.S.-Japan relationship is the cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and that our bilateral partnership on energy security is strong and deep. This inaugural ESD advances commitments made by the United States and Japan under the July 29 action plan of the ministerial-level Economic Policy Consultative Committee (EPCC) and sets the stage for discussions on energy security in future EPCC meetings.
The two sides discussed serious concerns over disruptions in energy markets directly resulting from Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. The United States and Japan reiterated their ironclad commitment to upholding the May 8 G7 decision to reduce dependency on Russian energy, June 28 G7 Leaders Communiqué, and G7 support for Ukraine to repair, restore, and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure. Japan and the United States discussed the need for diverse and secure supplies of energy, noting support for upstream investment in the United States to enhance energy security.
The United States welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi’s reaffirmation at the Bucharest G7+ meeting of Japan’s commitment to assist Ukraine’s restoration of its energy grid in the face of Russia’s accelerating attacks on civilian infrastructure. The United States and Japan look forward to the December 13 international conference in Paris organized by France and Ukraine aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s civilian resilience.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitments to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to 2050 net-zero targets. They also underscored their resolve to accelerate the energy transition to further these commitments and achieve energy security. They discussed the importance of diverse and secure energy supplies, including renewable and nuclear energy, for Asia and the world. The United States and Japan intend to work together so that global liquefied natural gas markets have the capacity to provide additional and diversified supplies in case of disruptions in the near term as countries move away from unabated fossil fuels and towards a sustainable net-zero future.
Both Japan and the United States pledged to further advance regional cooperation through efforts such as the Japan-U.S. Clean Energy Partnership (JUCEP) and the Japan-U.S. Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP). Both sides applauded the Minerals Security Partnership and agreed to prioritize further discussions on securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains, including through bilateral and multilateral channels. The United States also noted the role of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
Both sides underscored their continued commitments to decarbonizing their economies. They also reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation across multilateral fora such as the G7 to facilitate access to affordable, clean, and reliable energy in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The United States will host the next Energy Security Dialogue in 2023.