US President Joe Biden announced the most significant strengthening in defense relations with Japan since the Cold War. The three countries will “create a common air missile network and defense architecture”.
Joe Biden also indicated that a Japanese astronaut will be the first non-American to land on the Moon, as part of an American space mission. On Thursday, Fumio Kishida must address both houses of the American Congress before being received again by Joe Biden, alongside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (son and namesake of the former dictator). On that day, the American president will organize the first trilateral summit between Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. The 66-year-old Prime Minister is the first Japanese leader to receive the honors of a state visit to Washington since Shinzo Abe in 2015. The only potential downside to the Japanese Prime Minister's visit is the announced acquisition of American steel giant US Steel by the Japanese PM. The Democratic president is opposed to Nonon Steel in fact, which could play a role in his re-election campaign.