General Koji Yamazaki, Chief of Staff of the Japan Joint Staff and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command bilaterally presided over the eleventh Joint Senior Leadership Seminar in Tokyo, Japan, November 9-10.

General Yamazaki and Admiral Aquilino acknowledged the common security challenges and a shared vision to transform the Alliance, in which interoperable units seamlessly conduct bilateral operations in peacetime and during regional contingencies.

"Under dramatically changing security environment, Japan- U.S. Alliance has been the cornerstone for the peace and stability of the region for over 60 years, and it will continue to be so. To that end, I continue to share the visions for the future with ADM Aquilino like we just did through the seminar,” said GEN Yamazaki. “Furthermore, SDF will accumulate truly effective effort, such as bilateral exercise with the U.S., to swiftly respond to any contingencies."

Both leaders agreed to implement a shared vision to strengthen Japan Self-Defense Force and U.S. forces interoperability, future readiness requirements, and integrate JSDF involvement in a multilateral regional security framework.

“The strong bond between Japanese Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Joint Force represent an important aspect of our alliance,” said Adm. Aquilino. “Our common devotion to freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, unites us, and events like JSLS help us continue to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges together.”

The Japan-U.S. Alliance is vital to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and Japan Joint Staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and U.S. Forces Japan remain committed to strengthening the Alliance together. Both leaders emphasized their continuous assessments and routine collaboration to ensure bilateral actions to advance General Yamazaki’s and Admiral Aquilino’s shared vision of an Alliance best postured to meet common security challenges.