The US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has a reputation for getting what he wants. A former White House aide and politician who operated at the highest levels of American politics, he consistently pushed through policies.
Now, as the top U.S. diplomat in Tokyo, he managed to help Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden support the extensive maintenance and repairs of U.S. ships and aircraft at Japanese facilities. A newly established U.S.-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment will meet in June to iron out details and identify areas for a better Japan-U.S. industrial partnership.
As policymakers set the agenda for the DICAS meeting, they may be tempted to back major joint development programs, such as the so-called Glide Phase Interceptor, to counter hypersonic missiles. Although it is an important joint project, it is only one of many potential opportunities. Similar approaches were tried by the alliance in the past, but lost steam. For DICAS to succeed, it will need to quickly meet the operational demands facing the armed forces and build momentum by scoring some quick victories.
