Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024

August 14, 2024

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's leadership has been nothing short of historic. Since he assumed office nearly 3 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.-R.O.K.-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.

Categories: Statements by the President : Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision not to seek reelection.

Names: Kishida, Fumio; Yoon Suk Yeol.

Subjects: Indo-Pacific, economic and security cooperation; Japan, Prime Minister; Japan, relations with South Korea; Japan, relations with U.S; Russia, conflict in Ukraine; South Korea, President; South Korea, relations with Japan; South Korea, relations with U.S; Ukraine, Russian invasion and airstrikes.

DCPD Number: DCPD202400698.