U.S.-Japan Extended Deterrence Dialogue – United States Department of State

The United States hosted Japan for an Extended Deterrence Dialogue (EDD) at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 13-14, 2024.  The United States and Japan established the EDD in 2010 as an enduring venue to discuss ways to sustain and strengthen extended deterrence, which is at the core of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.  The U.S. side was co-chaired by Ms. Alexandra Bell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability, Department of State, and Mr. Richard Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.  The Japanese side was co-chaired by Mr. MIYAMOTO Shingo, Deputy Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. ANDO Atsushi, Deputy Director-General, Defense Policy Bureau, Ministry of Defense.  The delegations included participants from divisions from both sides in charge of security policy and arms control, as well as from JSDF, USSTRATCOM, USINDOPACOM, and U.S. Forces Japan.

This iteration of the EDD followed the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting on April 10, in which President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the critical importance of continuing to enhance U.S. extended deterrence, bolstered by Japan’s defense capabilities, and further strengthening bilateral cooperation.  The delegations held in-depth discussions advancing the dialogue from the previous meeting of the EDD held in December 2023 in Japan, exchanged views on efforts that could further augment the dialogue, and consulted on measures to advance these objectives.

The two sides shared assessments of challenges to the regional security environment, in particular the DPRK’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile program and its growing military cooperation with Russia, as well as the PRC’s accelerating build-up of its nuclear arsenal without transparency.  Both sides advanced efforts to review Alliance conventional and U.S. nuclear capabilities contributing to regional deterrence and optimize the Alliance’s force posture and activities to bolster deterrence effectiveness.  The United States and Japan reaffirmed the need for the PRC to acknowledge its nuclear weapons expansion, which is undermining regional and global peace and security.  Both sides expressed disappointment with the PRC’s decision to suspend consultations with the United States on ways to reduce strategic risks.

The United States reiterated its commitment to enhance the regional deterrent effect of U.S. nuclear assets.  The two sides explored avenues to enhance joint deterrence capabilities of both countries in an integrated manner to deepen Alliance political, diplomatic, and defense cooperation and further prepare the Alliance to defend against potential attacks and deter nuclear use.  Both sides reiterated their pledge from the last EDD to improve coordination and strengthen the Alliance’s capabilities and posture against adversary missile threats.

Furthermore, the two sides conducted a tabletop exercise, which has regularly been included in the EDD meeting agenda, to increase mutual understanding of potential courses of action to enhance deterrence and cooperation in a specific crisis scenario.

During the visit to F.E. Warren AFB, the delegations received an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) wing mission brief before touring the missile procedures trainer, where U.S. Air Force missile combat crews conduct training on ICBM launch procedures, and a training launch facility, where ICBM maintenance professionals train on maintaining the Minuteman III ICBM weapons system.