While the war in Iran is shaking the global economy, Japan also sees the foundation of its defense strategy shaken by President Donald Trump’s “Donroe doctrine”. A reinterpretation of the famous Monroe doctrine, this concept reflects the vision of a world divided into spheres of influence between three powers – the United States, China, and Russia. This implies a potential US disengagement from the Indo-Pacific region, which could benefit Beijing.
Japan, militarily dependent on its American ally much like its Korean neighbor, watches this situation with concern: for Tokyo, it would be unthinkable to face China without Washington’s support. 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 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 think about how to keep them in Asia,” sighed the senior officer, who regularly contributes to the media.
