Japan-U.S. ‘2-plus-2’ security talks to be postponed until next year

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 12, 2021

The Japanese and U.S. governments plan to postpone the upcoming 2-plus-2 security meeting of their defense and foreign ministers until next year, it has been learned.

In coordinating the postponement, both sides determined that more time was needed to prepare for the meeting, which was originally slated to take place this year.

Strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities is expected to be a main theme of the talks.

Toward the end of this year, the Japanese side will formulate its budget plan for the next fiscal year. Some defense ministry officials are of the opinion that it will be easier to hold the meeting after the budget plan, which includes defense-related expenses, has been finalized.

Next January, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference will be held in New York to discuss nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.

The 2-plus-2 meeting may possibly be rescheduled to coincide with the NPT conference.

In March this year, the two governments held their first 2-plus-2 talks in Tokyo since the start of the Biden administration, and had agreed to hold the next meeting before the end of this year.