Japan-U.S. Relations and the U.S. Presidential Election

2023 has been a year of diplomatic accomplishments for Japan-U.S. relations. In the Biden-Kishida summit in January, the two leaders stated that the “security alliance has never been stronger” and that the two allies “strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, anywhere in the world.” More recently, in the words of a U.S. official, the Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Summit kicked off a “defining trilateral relationship for the 21st century.”

2024, in turn, can be a year of domestic challenges for the leaders in the region, with important elections coming up: the Taiwan presidential election in January, the South Korean general elections in April, and a leadership race for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in September. Above all, the results of the U.S. Presidential election in November may well define the trajectory of relationships among allies and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific in the years to come.

We are fortunate to welcome Ambassador ARIMA Yutaka, Director General of the North American Affairs Bureau in the Foreign Ministry, to share with us the frontline view of how the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election may impact the relationship. Join us in an early discussion of what will capture everyone’s attention in the coming months.

Event and Registration Details

• This event will be conducted in in-person and online, and registration is required.
• In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card or at the door.
• Online participation is open to the public and free.

Speaker Bio

ARIMA Yutaka assumed the position of Ambassador, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan in August 2023. Ambassador Arima’s diplomatic career spans over 30 years. Most recently, he has served as Director-General, of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department (2022-2023), Ambassador in charge of Cyber Policy and Deputy Assistant Minister, Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau (2021-2022), and Deputy Assistant Minister, Deputy Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau (2019-2021).

His overseas postings include Political Officer, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (New York, 2008-2011). He has taught at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, and was a Visiting Professor at the School of Government, Kyoto University.

Ambassador Arima graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo in 1991, and received his LLM from Harvard Law School in 1993. Since 1995, he is a member of the New York State Bar.