Japanese Prime Minister Calls for Continued American Leadership on Global Stage in Address to U.S. Congress

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has urged the U.S. to maintain its leadership role on the global stage during a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Kishida emphasized the importance of the United States in shaping the future of the world, stating that the international order established by the U.S. is currently facing new challenges from those with conflicting values.

Following his state visit with President Joe Biden, where they discussed military cooperation and strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance against China and Russia, Kishida spoke before lawmakers to reiterate his message of continued American leadership on the global stage.

Kishida’s visit to Washington, D.C., will include participation in a historic trilateral summit with President Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as well as a luncheon hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department after his speech.

This is only the second time a Japanese leader has spoken before U.S. lawmakers, with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being the first in 2015.

In his address to Congress, Kishida underscored Japan’s commitment to working closely with its allies to promote peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region, particularly in light of growing tensions with China and North Korea.

He also emphasized Japan’s need for closer cooperation with other countries that share democratic values, including those in Europe and Latin America.

Kishida’s speech came just days after he announced plans for Japan to increase defense spending for fiscal year 2021-2022 by about 3 percent above current levels, reflecting Japan’s growing concerns about regional security threats.

The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to Congress for its support of Japan’s efforts to combat terrorism and promote economic development through free trade agreements like Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).