Press Releases
Japan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs, NAMAZU Hiroyuki and U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for Energy Security, Geoffrey PYATT met on 2nd December 2022 for the Japan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue covering topics on energy security, energy transition, energy access and assistance to Ukraine, taking into account geopolitical considerations and in the view to strengthening Japan-U.S. cooperation on energy front at the multilateral fora. This dialogue advances commitments in the action plan of the Economic Policy Consultative Committee (the Economic "2+2") and sets the stage for discussion on energy security in future EPCC meetings.
Energy Security
Japan side and the United States side shared serious concerns towards the surge in energy prices and supply disruption resulting from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine which could have adverse impacts to vulnerable population. Further, discussions were held to explore possible and effective measures to provide assistance to Ukraine restore their norm, especially in the face of harsh winter. Both sides reaffirmed their determinations to keep firm attitudes toward political use of energy and economic coercion therefrom which ought not to be tolerated.
Energy Transition and Access to the affordable energy
Japan side and the United States side recognized that an access to energy is under threat, especially among vulnerable population, in both developing and developed countries. Both sides shared the urgency to secure access to an affordable energy, with the understandings that access to energy is a basic human need and that cooperation to promote energy access, including in Southeast Asia, is necessary.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance to deepen the cooperation for realizing the practical energy transition, especially in the Asia Pacific region and the necessity to make the resilient supply chain of critical minerals, which is crucial for the clean energy transition, through the framework of the Minerals Security Partnership.
Further, Japan side and the United States side acknowledged the need to build strong foundations for smooth and practical energy transitions by making the best use of fossil fuels albeit with utilizations of advanced technologies and to bring about an affordable energy to those in need.
Japan side and the United States side came to conclude that holding dialogues, utilizing factual and transparent data, could be the way forward to overcome various energy issues on hands and agreed to act in accord to consider taking those up to be addressed in the upcoming G7.
The next dialogue is scheduled to take place in 2023 and will be hosted by the United States.