Japan: Security, Prosperity, And The Japan-US Alliance

Join Shigeru Kitamura, former National Security Advisor of Japan, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Japan’s transformation into a leader in economic statecraft, how democratic nations can secure strategic autonomy in critical technologies and supply chains, and the future of US-Japan cooperation in confronting coercion, cyber threats, and growing competition in the Indo-Pacific.

The conversation explores Japan’s evolving security strategy in response to growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s military modernization, economic coercion, and tensions surrounding Taiwan and the East China Sea. Kitamura and McMaster also discuss Japan’s changing defense posture, the role of critical technologies and resilient supply chains, and the importance of the Quad and other partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. They examine efforts to deter North Korea, strengthen regional security, and deepen US-Japan cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Recorded on June 30, 2026.