U.S.-Japan Alliance Deepens Strategic Cooperation for Regional Stability

By Staff Reporter

The United States hosted Japan for an Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD) at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on February 18, 2026. The U.S. delegation was co-chaired by the Departments of State and Defense; Japan’s delegation was co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.

The delegations included participants from the Japan Joint Staff, U.S. Joint Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

The EDD advanced President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sanae akaichi’s shared determination to further enhance the Alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities. The two delegations reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan, using the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear.

They also reaffirmed Japan’s support for U.S. operations that maintain peace, thereby reinforcing U.S. deterrence by denial. The delegations concurred that U.S. nuclear posture and policy, as well as Japan’s increasing investments in its conventional defense capabilities, play a significant role in deterring and, if necessary, responding to aggression in the region.

The two delegations discussed China’s rapid, opaque, and destabilizing nuclear weapons buildup and testing, as well as Russia’s historical noncompliance with arms control.

The United States reiterated the need for multilateral strategic stability and arms control talks. Japan welcomed the U.S. intention to achieve a better agreement and emphasized the importance of involving Russia and China.

The delegations also discussed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) advancement of its nuclear and missile programs. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK.

Both sides also discussed the importance of the U.S.-Japan Guidelines for Extended Deterrence, focusing on strengthening the Alliance’s strategic messaging, crisis communications, and coordination to support U.S. extended deterrence, bolstered by Japan’s defense capabilities.

The U.S. and Japanese delegations conducted a regular tabletop exercise.

Ends.

SOURCE : U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Global Public Affairs