US Reaffirms Commitment to Defending Japan With All Capabilities Including Nuclear

Japan encouraged the United States to pursue multilateral talks to help avert a nuclear arms race and address concerns about nuclear testing.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 29, 2025. Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to defending Japan using the full range of U.S. military capabilities “including nuclear,” citing China’s “dramatic and opaque nuclear weapons buildup” and other threats in the region.

The pledge was made in a June 9 joint statement issued by the U.S. and Japanese governments, following Tokyo’s hosting of American officials during the Extended Deterrence Dialogue, in which Japan also reiterated its support for U.S. forces and operations to maintain peace.