The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Japanese National Security Advisor Akiba Takeo in Washington, D.C. on May 3. Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Akiba emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and the upcoming Quad Summit to maintain an inclusive, free, and open Indo-Pacific. The Secretary and the National Security Advisor reaffirmed the basic principles of freedom, self-determination, and sovereignty in response to the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine. The Secretary expressed appreciation for Japan’s leadership in supporting Ukraine, and they discussed how to best cooperate to impose further costs on Russia for its aggression. They also compared notes on efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and push back against unilateral efforts to alter the status quo. The Secretary and the National Security Advisor discussed expanding economic cooperation and strengthening the global rules-based international order through the U.S.-Japan Economic Policy Consultative Committee (“Economic 2+2”) and also welcomed efforts to enhance trilateral U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea cooperation to support the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and other shared goals.