Risch, Colleagues Reaffirm U.S.-Japan Alliance Ahead of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s Visit to United States

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.) in leading a bipartisan Senate resolution to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae as she visits the United States and meets with President Donald J. Trump at the White House this week.

The resolution reaffirms the strong and enduring U.S.-Japan alliance, applauds Japan's achievement of two percent of gross domestic product on defense spending, and expresses strong support for the U.S.-Japan alliance's efforts to address regional and global challenges to national security, economic security, and energy security. It also praises deepening trilateral relations among the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and backs Tokyo's determination to immediately resolve the issue of Japanese abductees in North Korea and calls on Pyongyang to release abductees.

"Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to the U.S. marks an opportunity to showcase strong and deepening U.S.-Japan bilateral ties," said Senator Risch. "Japan is a critical security partner and a regional leader in maintaining a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Its commitment to increasing defense spending and burden-sharing should serve as a model to U.S. allies around the world. I'm grateful to the Prime Minister for her diplomatic efforts to strengthen this partnership as well as her efforts to deepen trilateral and multilateral ties with regional partners such as South Korea, Australia, India, the Philippines, and Taiwan."

"As President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi meet at the White House this week, the United States and Japan are truly ushering in a new 'golden age' for our alliance in terms of national security, economic security, and energy security," Senator Hagerty said. "I'm pleased to lead this bipartisan resolution to welcome Prime Minister Takaichi to the United States and reaffirm the Senate's strong support for raising the U.S.-Japan alliance to new heights."

"As the only Japanese-American serving in the United States Senate, I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution to honor the enduring alliance between Japan and the U.S., and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific," said Senator Hirono. "At a time of mounting global instability, the alliance between our two nations is more vital than ever. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Washington, D.C., as we continue to strengthen our partnership."

"America's alliance with Japan supports jobs, fosters innovation, and serves as the cornerstone for security across the Indo-Pacific. This is an alliance that has broad bipartisan support, and I'm proud to stand with colleagues from both sides of the aisle in welcoming Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to the United States," said Senator Kim.

"The United States-Japan alliance is crucial for peace in the Indo-Pacific. America welcomes Prime Minister Takaichi Sane as we continue to work together to ensure the world remains safe and secure. Our partnership will spur new economic opportunities and benefit job creators in multiple sectors in both countries. I am confident the United States and Japan will remain friends and allies for generations to come," said Senator Wicker.

"I'm pleased to welcome our friend, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the U.S. with this resolution," Senator Rick Scott said. "The United States and Japan have been close allies for decades and are bound by a shared commitment to democracy, economic partnership, and global security. I look forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Takaichi to promote peace, security, and prosperity for the American people, the people of Japan, and the rest of the world."

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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