Secretary of Defense Austin’s Visit to Japan and the Holding of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC)

(Press Release)

July 22, 2024
Ministry of Defense

In Japanese

  1. The Honorable Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense will visit Japan from July 27th to July 29th. Mr. KIHARA Minoru, Minister of Defense will hold a Defense Ministerial Meeting with Secretary Austin on July 29th.
  2. Additionally, as the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, will also visit Japan at the same time, the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) and Japan-U.S. Ministerial meeting on extended deterrence will be held on July 28th.
  3. At the SCC, the four Ministers will discuss the security challenges facing the two countries. They will also discuss future cooperation toward the realization of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," strengthening of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and the direction of their security and defense cooperation in the region based on the outcomes of Prime Minister Kishida’s official visit to the U.S. in this April.
  4. Furthermore, at Japan-U.S. Ministerial meeting on extended deterrence, which will be held in accordance with the Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement announced in April, the four Ministers will hold discussions on bilateral cooperation for further strengthening U.S. extended deterrence, bolstered by Japan’s defense capabilities, based on progress of discussions being made primarily through the Japan-U.S. Extended Deterrence Dialogue.

Secretary of Defense Austin’s Visit to Japan and the Holding of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC) (PDF)