The United States

   In its foreign policy, the Bush administration has been actively dealing with, among others, the fight against terrorism, the stabilization of Iraq, and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, while on the domestic front it has been responding to such priority issues as illegal immigration, reforms in health insurance and pensions, and the development of alternative energies. However, the Bush administration's approval rating hovered in the 30's and 40's throughout 2006 because of turmoil in Iraq and other issues. In the midterm elections of November 7, the Democratic Party regained a majority in both Houses of Congress from the Republican Party. On the Japan-U.S. relationship, Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro's visit to the United States in June, Japan and the United States affirmed that these two countries, which share common values and interests, should deepen their bilateral relationship and undertake broad-based cooperation. Prime Minister Abe, who had assumed the prime ministership in September, participated in his first Japan-US Summit meeting in November. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and resolved to tackle various issues facing the international community, under the concept of the “Japan-U.S. alliance for Asia and the world.”.