Nashville Standard

WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jim Risch (R-ID), introduced a bipartisan resolution today to highlight the strength and significance of the U.S.-Japan alliance. This resolution comes ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida's official state visit to Washington this week.

Senator Hagerty emphasized the importance of the alliance, stating, “As a Senator and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I believe the U.S.-Japan Alliance is one of our most important diplomatic, economic, technological, and military alliances in the world, and is central to securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

Senator Cardin echoed the sentiment, affirming, “Our alliance with Japan is ironclad, and we have never been more strategically aligned with our friends in Tokyo than we are today.” Senator Risch added, “Japan is a leader in the world and a strong and steadfast ally of the United States.”

The resolution, supported by Senators Chris Van Hollen, Mitt Romney, and Mazie Hirono, acknowledges the vital role that the U.S.-Japan alliance plays in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Senator Van Hollen stated, “Built upon shared democratic values, the decades-long U.S.-Japan alliance has not only deepened the economic, security, cultural, and people-to-people ties between our two nations – it has also been a positive force for stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

Senator Romney emphasized the significance of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, especially amidst growing military aggression by China. Senator Hirono highlighted the critical nature of the alliance during times of global instability, stressing the shared commitment to ensuring peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The bipartisan resolution aims to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the United States to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region, recognizing the importance of the relationship between the two countries.