Japan, U,S. Foreign Ministers Agree on Bolstering Alliance; Discussion Includes North Korea, China, U.S. Steel Purchase

By Kenta Kamimura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

17:23 JST, January 22, 2025

WASHINGTON — Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Washington on Tuesday and agreed to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and promote cooperation toward the realization of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Their meeting lasted for 30 minutes at the U.S. State Department. The two ministers also confirmed that they will accelerate coordination for their upcoming summit, which is currently being arranged for the first half of February.

This was the first meeting between Japanese and U.S. cabinet ministers since U.S. President Donald Trump took office for the second time on Monday. Iwaya and Rubio also exchanged views on North Korea, which is promoting nuclear and missile development, and China, which is heightening its hegemonic behavior.

Iwaya explained Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities. There was no discussion on the tariff hikes that President Trump has mentioned.

The importance of investment in the United States by Japanese companies and the Japan-U.S. economic relationship was also confirmed.

Concerning Nippon Steel Corp.’s planned acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp., “I said I hope that efforts will be made [on the U.S. side] to dispel any concerns about Japanese investment in the United States,” Iwaya told reporters after the meeting.