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.¡±
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