A strong U.S. foreign policy strategy that relies upon privileged bilateral relationships is now more important than ever. No more privileged relationship exists for maintaining stability in large tracts of the world, most notably the Asia-Pacific region, than that of the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship. This significant and enduring alliance cannot afford to be neglected.
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Japan’s Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi inspect a guard of honor on October 29, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Getty Images)