Japanese Prime Minister to appeal to Congress to resume aid to Ukraine
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Getty Images)
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, currently on a visit to the United States, is set to address Congress on Thursday, demanding a reinstatement of military aid to Ukraine, according to Euronews.
In addition, he will emphasize the importance of maintaining a robust partnership between the US and Japan amidst tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and Congress' skeptical stance on Washington's overseas involvement.
Kishida's official trip to Washington coincides with the White House's reception of all leaders of the "Quad" - an informal partnership between the US, Japan, Australia, and India, aimed at countering China's growing military prowess in the region.
Tokyo swiftly took action following Russia's invasion in February 2022, joining the US and other Western allies in imposing aggressive sanctions against Moscow, while Japanese automakers Mazda, Toyota, and Nissan announced their withdrawal from Russia.
Japan's cooperation with Ukraine
In early April, Ukraine received $118 million in non-repayable aid from the Japanese government.
Due to the situation in Ukraine, the Japanese government banned the export of certain goods to Russia that could bolster its industrial base.
Recently, Fumio Kishida said that international events are pushing the world and Japan towards decisive and unexpected actions. Tokyo, in particular, has decided to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia seek to engage Japan in countering China's influence.
