The U.S.-Japan Alliance
JOHN V. ROOS
U.S. Ambassador to Japan
The United States and Japan together have forged one of the most successful alliances in history. This year, 2010, our two nations will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of our Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. This anniversary year offers us the opportunity not only to look back and reflect on our accomplishments to date, but also to look ahead—seeking new ways to strengthen our relationship and work together to face the myriad challenges of this still young century.
On both sides of the Pacific, new administrations took office in 2009. When I met with President Obama in August before I came to Japan as Ambassador, he reaffirmed that the partnership between the United States and Japan is one of the cornerstones of our security and economic well-being. I share his views about the importance of the relationship and the enormous respect between the people of Japan and the people of the United States.
Within the first weeks after my arrival in Tokyo, the Japanese people elected a new government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama taking office on September 16. Less than a week later in New York, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and on September 23, President Obama and Prime Minister Hatoyama held their first meeting. In October, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates became the first Cabinet official to visit the new government in Tokyo. In November, President Obama made a much-anticipated visit to Japan and again met with Prime Minister Hatoyama, underscoring our vital interest in valuing and nurturing the U.S.-Japan alliance.
While our strategic alliance necessarily focuses on security issues, there are other important areas at the foundation of the U.S.-Japan relationship. Article II of our Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security commits both parties to “contribute toward the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well-being.” It continues, “They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between them.”
Our extraordinarily close relationship is already based on shared values and shared interests, but I believe that there is much more we can do at all levels—not only between our governments, but also among our private sectors and non-governmental institutions—to build an even broader and deeper relationship. I will continue to actively seek innovative ways to strengthen our bilateral ties in education, culture, science and business. It is through this diverse engagement that we can best tackle the global challenges we face such as climate change, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, pandemic disease and recovery of the world economy.
In doing so, we will further strengthen and expand the U.S.-Japan alliance, so that in 50 years’ time, our nations will have even stronger economic and political ties, and richer cultural exchanges to celebrate.