USA and Japan revise ‘defence guidelines’
In a long-awaited move, the US and Japan updated their ‘Guidelines for US-Japan Defense Cooperation’ during bilateral 2+2 talks in New York on 27 April. Significantly, it is the first revision of the foundational document since 1997.
The new guidelines provide for Japan to defend regional allies coming under attack, as well as a broadened role worldwide. While the old document covered security situations in close proximity to Japan, the new agreement eliminates any geographic restrictions.
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida told a press briefing the new guidelines are an ‘enhancement of solidarity and expansion of cooperation between
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