Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s leadership has been nothing short of historic. Since he assumed office nearly three years ago, Prime Minister Kishida and I have worked together to take the U.S.-Japan Alliance to new heights, from advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region, to standing side-by-side as steadfast, global partners. Guided by unflinching courage and moral clarity, Prime Minister Kishida has transformed Japan’s role in the world. He unveiled a momentous new national security strategy; surged support to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion; and, together with President Yoon of the Republic of Korea, has taken historic steps to usher in a new era of U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, strengthening our collective capacity to take on common challenges. Prime Minister Kishida took these and other actions not because they were easy – but because he believes to his core that they were the right thing to do. Put simply, thanks to Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership, the future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance is stronger and brighter than ever. Prime Minister Kishida’s courageous leadership will be remembered on both sides of the Pacific for decades to come, and I will always be grateful to call him my friend.

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