Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to address a joint U.S. Congress session on April 11 during his official visit to Washington, which marks the first address by a Japanese leader in nine years.
Scheduled to meet President Joe Biden and attend a state dinner on April 10, Kishida aims to reaffirm Japan’s alliance with the United States amidst challenges from China and North Korea.
Kishida’s visit highlights the commitment to peace, prosperity, and global democracy shared by both nations. The topics of discussion will include bolstering cooperation in economic security, outer space, and emerging technologies, along with trilateral collaboration involving South Korea and multilateral engagement with like-minded partners.
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised the importance of condemning tyranny and championing freedom worldwide.
In a letter to Kishida, bipartisan leaders expressed anticipation for enhanced collaboration, both in the Indo-Pacific and globally. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi highlighted the speech’s significance in strengthening Japan-U.S. ties.
In addition, Kishida, representing Hiroshima, might discuss his support for nuclear disarmament. Considering Japan’s dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, attention will be focused on Kishida’s position, in contrast to Shinzo Abe’s 2015 speech, which acknowledged regret for wartime conduct.
