Japan Preps Aircraft Carriers for American-Made Fighters, Signaling Shift to Stronger US Defensive Ties

News Analysis Japan’s move to convert two warships into aircraft carriers underscores stronger ties in the Indo-Pacific between the United States and Japan, as the two countries solidify their position as military allies. During Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to Washington April 8–14, the Japanese leader and U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled initiatives aimed at deepening military, economic, and broader cooperative efforts. The collaboration is largely viewed as a strategic response to the assertive stance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region. The importance of the U.S.–Japan relationship has been a consistent theme across successive U.S. administrations. Under President Biden, the relationship has seen further enhancement, marking a peak in military cooperation that began with the inception of the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty during the early 1960s under President Dwight Eisenhower....