Japan: America’s Indispensable Ally in the 21st Century

Mohammed Soliman

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In the 20th century, the United States and Great Britain formed a special relationship that defined the century, ensuring American primacy and British survival as the world transitioned from Pax Britannica to Pax Americana. Across the Atlantic, once a British colony, America stood as a steadfast ally in the two great world wars. In addition to their shared culture and history, Washington recognized London’s pivotal role as an anchor state for American power in Europe. Against the specter of German aggression and continental hegemony under Kaiser Wilhelm and Adolf Hitler, the US-UK alliance served as a bulwark against Imperial German and Nazi domination of continental Europe. Since the dawn of this millennium, there has been a clear shift in the global economic balance of power from Europe to Asia, and a new military balance of power will follow, as history informs us. Consequently, the fate of American power now hinges on the Indo-Pacific, where the specter of Chinese regional hegemony looms large. Washington is currently engaged in a vigorous debate over American grand strategy for the 21st century, with advocates of an Asia-first approach competing against those who prioritize Europe. As the Ukraine War drags on, this debate is likely to cross partisan lines. At its core is the question of whether a new successor, such as Japan, is taking over London’s role from the last century. There is little doubt that Japan now serves as the anchor of US power in the Indo-Pacific. The US-Japan alliance is poised to define America’s Asian and global role, as well as Japan’s survival—just as the US-UK alliance did in the 20th century.