The US ambassador to Japan says boosting arms industry ties is key to a stronger security alliance
TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to Japan urged Tokyo on Tuesday to take a greater role in developing, producing and supplying weapons “to enhance our collective security” amid conflict in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere.
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel visited a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ F-35 fighter jet factory and stressed the importance of stronger defense industry cooperation between the allies. The United States alone can no longer supply all democracies, he said.
The visit came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s trip to Washington, where he met with President Joe Biden and highlighted Japan’s commitment to do more as a reliable partner, especially in defense cooperation.
The countries will now look at what Japan can co-license, co-produce and co-develop, Emanuel told reporters. “It’s extremely exciting to bring Japan’s industrial capability, its engineering smarts, onto the field on behalf of the alliance,” he said.