USA and Japan form alliance: fight against China's monopoly!

USA and Japan form alliance: fight against China's monopoly!

What's happening on the international relations front? A new agreement between the USA and Japan sends clear signals for increased cooperation in the field of rare earths. As reported, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed this agreement in Tokyo to ensure the resilience and security of supply chains for critical minerals. The two countries want to reduce their dependence on China, which currently holds a quasi-monopoly on these valuable resources and has recently introduced export controls for rare earths and magnets.[radioenneperuhr.de]

With a clear goal in mind: Rare earths are essential for the production of technology such as smartphones, wind turbines and electric cars as well as for defense-related products. It is therefore not surprising that the two countries are working intensively on the extraction, processing and delivery of these raw materials.

Military strength and economic cooperation

At a time when geopolitical tensions are rising, Trump praised Japan's increase in military capabilities under Takaichi's leadership. The initiative is part of a broader plan to raise Japan's defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by March, two years earlier than originally planned. All of this comes in the context of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday to discuss the ongoing trade conflict.[radioenneperuhr.de]

Takaichi describes the security relationship with the US as the “cornerstone” of its foreign and security policy, particularly with regard to the threats from China and North Korea. This strategic partnership shows how important it is to protect one's own resources and strengthen military and economic capabilities.

Global perspectives

The APEC group, which includes 21 countries including the USA and Japan as well as China, Russia and South Korea, will continue to work to reduce trade barriers and strengthen economic growth. This creates a platform for dialogue and cooperation, even as tensions between nations continue.[radioenneperuhr.de]

If we look at the challenges, one can imagine that other countries will also develop similar strategies to protect their own interests in a rapidly changing global environment. It remains exciting to see how cooperation between the US and Japan will develop and whether they can actually usher in a “new golden age” for the alliance.