WASHINGTON -- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Dr. Ely Ratner, will travel to Tokyo, March 11-12. During his visit, Assistant Secretary Ratner and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink will co-chair the 2+2 Security Sub-Committee (SSC) with Director-General ICHIKAWA Keiichi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director-General MASUDA Kazuo, Ministry of Defense.

In follow-up to the Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting co-chaired by the Secretaries of Defense and State, the Assistant Secretaries will discuss with their Japanese counterparts efforts to modernize the U.S.-Japan Alliance and strengthen joint capabilities.

Dr. Ratner will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Japan’s security and engage on combined efforts to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine. He will also stress the importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, and the role of the U.S. - Japan Alliance as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.