US, Japan Unveil ‘Extended’ Deterrence Guidelines, Citing Rising Nuclear Threats

The new guidelines signal a united front aimed at countering growing regional threats from China, North Korea, and Russia in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Atago (L), U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (C), and South Korean Navy's Aegis destroyer King Sejong the Great (R) sail during a joint missile defense drill in the international waters off the east coast of South Korea, on Feb. 22, 2023. South Korea Defense Ministry via AP

The United States and Japan have unveiled new guidelines for “extended” deterrence, citing an “increasingly severe strategic and nuclear threat environment” that reflects heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, where China, Russia, and North Korea have taken steps to modernize their arsenals and project power.

The guidelines, unveiled on Dec. 27 through coordinated statements from the U.S. State Department and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscore the two nations’ commitment to reinforcing their alliance to maintain regional stability and deter conflict.