As the war in Iran shakes the global economy, Japan also sees the foundation of its defense strategy shaken by President Donald Trump’s “Donroe doctrine.” An interpretation of the famous Monroe doctrine, this concept reflects a world divided into spheres of influence among three powers – the United States, China, and Russia. This implies a potential disengagement of the United States from the Indo-Pacific region, which could benefit Beijing.
Japan, militarily dependent on its American ally as well as its Korean neighbor, is observing this situation with concern: for Tokyo, it would be unthinkable to face China without the support of Washington. In this context, Katsutoshi Kawano, former chief of staff of the Japanese self-defense forces from 2014 to 2019, gave an exclusive interview to the economic daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun, advocating for a fundamental revision of Japan’s defense strategy. “Some feared that due to the military alliance with the United States, Japan might be forced to participate in a war initiated by the Americans. But now we must consider how to keep them in Asia,” sighs the senior officer, who regularly contributes to media outlets.
