Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi wants to strengthen the alliance with the US regardless of the outcome of the congressional election

Japan's government is not commenting on the outcome of the congressional election, but intends to stay its course toward the US. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said this on Monday, 2 November, at 14:07 local time in Tokyo, i.e. 6:07 CET. He was answering a question from the Kyodo news agency (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, transcript of the press conference).

On the election. By his own account, Motegi was in Atlanta until the previous day. In the US, he said, the election is the dominant topic. Because it concerns the domestic politics of another country, he did not want to comment on it on behalf of the government. Japan is, however, following it “with interest”.

On the alliance. The alliance with the US is the foundation of Japan's foreign and security policy, he said. Regardless of the election result, a strong alliance is indispensable for Japan's interests and for peace and stability in the world. Cooperation should be deepened further at all levels, including between the heads of government and the foreign ministers.

Chancellor Merz and the Kremlin had made similar statements earlier: they do not expect a fundamental change of course by the US, see Reports. The forecasts for both chambers are on the Senate and House of Representatives pages.