New Senate Bill Would Encourage Japan Role in AUKUS

Four Senate Foreign Relations Committee members introduced a bill May 8 that would require the State and Defense departments to explore adding Japan to the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security partnership.

The senators said Japan could participate in the partnership’s Pillar II, which calls for jointly developing artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics and other advanced technologies.

“Japan is a close ally and logical first partner for potential expansion of AUKUS given its large, technologically advanced economy and substantial manufacturing capacity,” said Jim Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, who unveiled the legislation with Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Tim Kaine, D-Va.; and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.

The proposed Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act would require the administration to report to Congress on its efforts to involve Japan in the partnership.

A State Department official said last month that the AUKUS partners plan to conduct consultations “this year” with potential Pillar II participants, starting with Japan (see 2404240068). The Senate bill is intended to operationalize that announcement.