Japan-United States of America Relations
Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
September 22, 2021
On September 22, commencing at 17:20 (local time; 6:20 on September 23 Japan time) for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting New York, the United States, to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- The two ministers shared the view to continue to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance. They confirmed that Japan and the U.S. will further deepen cooperation among allies and like-minded countries through various frameworks, including Japan-U.S., Japan-Australia-India-U.S. and cooperation with European countries towards the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, taking also into account the trilateral security partnership among Australia, the UK and the U.S. that was announced last week.
- The two ministers also exchanged their views on Afghanistan, China, and North Korea and agreed to coordinate closely in their response. With regard to North Korea, Minister Motegi stated that North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile activities, including the latest ballistic missile launches, pose a threat to the peace and stability of Japan, the region, and the international community, and both ministers reaffirmed that Japan and the U.S. will work closely together to respond to North Korea, including the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
- In addition, the two ministers discussed the international order in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), from a strategic perspective, and Minister Motegi encouraged the U.S. to return to the TPP.