U.S. and Japan
Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
Congratulations to Prime Minister Kishida and the House of Representatives for passing the FY23 budget, which is a milestone achievement in transforming U.S.-Japan defense cooperation from Alliance Protection to Alliance Projection.
More than numbers, the budget represents Japan’s commitment to diplomacy, development, and, now, deterrence. The new budget is the first step in reaching Japan’s goal of increasing its defense spending to two percent of GDP over the next five years. This is a significant down payment on Japan’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.