Abe and Bush agree to use Japan-U.S. military alliance on global-scale

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Abe and Bush agree to use Japan-U.S. military alliance on global-scale

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and U.S. President George W. Bush, who were in Hanoi to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, held bilateral talks on November 18 for the first time since Abe assumed the office.

Later in the day, Abe said, "[We] agreed to make use of the Japan-U.S. alliance for the sake of peace and stability of the region and the rest of the world."

Taking over the "U.S.-Japan global alliance" policy framework from the former Koizumi cabinet, they agreed to make use of and strengthen the Japan-U.S. military alliance on a global-scale to deal with terrorism and other problems.

They also agreed to accelerate cooperation in the missile defense initiative and the implementation of the plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan with the aim of not only strengthening and perpetuating the U.S. bases in Japan, but also building the capacity to carry out coordinated operations of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. forces throughout the world.
- Akahata, November 19, 2006