The U.S. has appeared to pour cold water on the idea of Japan acquiring its own nukes, after a senior government official who advises Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on security expressed a personal opinion that Tokyo should possess the powerful weapons.
Queried about the comments by The Japan Times, a U.S. State Department spokesperson did not directly address the remarks, but praised Japan for its stance on nuclear nonproliferation.
“Japan is a global leader and a valuable partner to the United States on nuclear nonproliferation and advancing nuclear arms control,” the spokesperson said in an email Saturday. “As the National Security Strategy makes clear, the United States will maintain the world’s most robust, credible, and modern nuclear deterrent to protect America and our allies, including Japan.”