Today, Amy and I were deeply moved by our visit to the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Memorial Park. These solemn locations remind us of the horrors of war and teach us important lessons about the toll of war.
The challenge for ours and future generations is to heed the lessons of Okinawa. Not so long ago, our two peoples were adversaries on the battlefield. Now, we are allies in a free and open Indo-Pacific. We have shown the world that foes can become friends when they work together.
The United States is proud to stand alongside our Japanese friends and allies to preserve our values, to deter our adversaries, and to maintain peace. I am grateful to the people of Okinawa for your significant contributions to the U.S.-Japan Alliance. Nifee debiru.