The United States and the Philippines formally opened this year’s edition of Balikatan (Exercise Balikatan 41-2026) which is their annual joint military exercise focused on readiness, unity and defense, according to a news report by GMA News. Several allied nations and seventeen thousand troops are expected to participate in the exercise which will have military drills across various parts of the Philippines.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines and the United States on Monday formally opened their annual joint Balikatan Exercise for this year, with 17,000 troops and several other countries expected to join.
“I hereby declare Exercise Balikatan 41-2026 officially open starting today,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said during the opening ceremony.
“Let this exercise not only demonstrate our readiness but affirm our commitment to stand together, to act together, and when necessary, defend together,” he added.
More than 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and partner nations including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand. At least 18 more countries are expected to serve as observers in the exercise.
The drills will be conducted across various parts of the Philippines from Luzon to Mindanao.
Balikatan 2026 will cover multiple domains such as air and missile defense, maritime security, live-fire exercises, and joint readiness operations.
The exercises will also include humanitarian and civic assistance programs such as building schools, supporting healthcare initiatives, and enhancing disaster preparedness in local communities.
Brawner said the expanded scope of the exercise reflects the evolving security environment.
Balikatan 2026 will be transformed from a bilateral activity between the Philippines and US into a multilateral effort aimed at improving interoperability and collective defense capabilities.
Brawner pointed out that the drills are anchored on respect for international law, national sovereignty, and the goal of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think transforming this year’s Balilkatan from a bilateral US-Philippines activity into a multilateral effort makes sense? Considering the number of allies and soldiers expected to participate in the 2026 Balikatan, do you think Communist China will feel intimidated?
A lot happened between the United States and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran lately. Previously there was progress reported in the latest talks between them and the result was the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A short time later, Iran closed the strait and blamed America with a bunch of allegations. Iran even fired at ships in the strait as if they don’t really care about the ceasefire. In his latest move over the situation, US President Donald Trump told Islamic regime of Iran to take the deal or else they would face destruction, according to a report by Newsmax.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump on Sunday morning threatened to “knock out every single power plant and every single bridge” in Iran unless the country’s leaders accept a “very reasonable deal” offered by the United States.
Trump accused Iran of blatantly violating a ceasefire agreement by firing on ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, including vessels tied to key U.S. allies France and the United Kingdom.
“Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, criticizing Tehran’s actions as reckless and provocative.
“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.“
Trump made clear that patience with the Iranian regime is running out, declaring “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” and vowing decisive action if diplomacy fails.
He framed the moment as long overdue, arguing past administrations failed to confront what he called Iran’s “killing machine” over decades.
The president also underscored what he described as a strategic advantage for the United States, noting Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit chokepoint, are backfiring.
Trump said a U.S.-led blockade has already effectively shut down the passage, costing Iran an estimated $500 million per day while redirecting energy demand toward American producers in states like Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska.
Meanwhile, the administration is continuing diplomatic efforts.
Trump said U.S. representatives are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations, signaling that talks remain active despite rising tensions.
A White House official confirmed to Newsmax’s Mike Carter on Sunday that Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner will be leading the negotiations.
According to Axios on Saturday, Trump convened a high-level Situation Room meeting with top officials, including Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, to address the escalating crisis.
The current ceasefire is set to expire within days, and officials warn that without a breakthrough, hostilities could quickly resume.
Iran has acknowledged receiving new U.S. proposals and says it is reviewing them, but has not yet committed to a deal.
The renewed tensions come after signs of progress in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, particularly limits on uranium enrichment.
However, Iran’s latest military actions in the Strait appear to have complicated those discussions.
Speaking Saturday, Trump dismissed Tehran’s tactics as ineffective brinkmanship.
“They got a little cute … they wanted to close up the Strait again,” he said, adding that Iran “can’t blackmail us.”
For addition insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If diplomacy fails again, do you think America and Israel will unleash a new wave of offensive attacks against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Did you notice there is division between Iran’s diplomats and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)? Are you convinced that the so-called supreme leader of Iran is not really leading the regime at all? Do you think the rebellious Iranians should leave their country before a new wave of attacks against the Islamic regime happens?
In the latest development between the United States and the Philippines, the US Department of State announced that the two nations plan the launch of a historic economic security zone of four thousand acres which will shore up supply chains and it will be located in the main island of Luzon.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the fact sheet posted by the State Department. Some parts in boldface…
Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg today announced the United States’ and the Philippines’ plans to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub to secure inputs vital to American and global supply chains. The site is located in the Luzon Economic Corridor of the Philippines. The site—the first of its kind—is being designated by the Philippines as an Economic Security Zone, a new model for AI-native investment acceleration hubs being developed under the Pax Silica Initiative.
The Economic Security Zone is part of a broader strategy to surge production for inputs vital to U.S. supply chains. It is expected to serve as a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing—an investment acceleration hub where the specific industrial activities are shaped by market demand, host-country comparative advantages, and the evolving needs of the allied network. Situated within the Luzon Economic Corridor, the Zone can leverage the Philippines’ geographic centrality in the Indo-Pacific, its young and technically skilled workforce, and its deepening alliance with the United States.
Structure and Planned Governance
Joint governance: The two governments intend to identify appropriate frameworks for the long-term development of the Zone that facilitate sovereign alignment and shared upside as it scales.
Enhanced Operational Certainty: The Economic Security Zone is intended to fuse American expertise in institutions and legal regimes – internationally enforceable contracts, transparent regulatory standards, and expert dispute resolution – with enhanced access to the Philippines’ outstanding workforce and talent, mineral endowments, energy resources, and strategic position at the crossroads of Indo-Pacific trade.
The Philippines and Pax Silica
Critical minerals: The Philippines holds significant reserves of nickel, copper, chromite, and cobalt—minerals increasingly vital to global supply chains.
Infrastructure: The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) is a coordinated, high-impact investment in key sectors, including in transportation, energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The LEC will transform Luzon into a more prosperous and interconnected region while delivering value to American investors.
The Economic Security Zone
First of many: The Luzon hub is intended to be the first Zone in a broader industrial network—a constellation of integrated manufacturing sites, logistics corridors, and shared financial instruments spanning partner nations across multiple continents.
System transformation: This interconnection can transform Pax Silica industrial policy from a collection of bilateral projects into a genuine system capable of competing with—and ultimately displacing—the concentrated supply chains on which the world currently depends.
For insight, Pax Silica is the State Department’s flagship effort on artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chain security, advancing new economic security consensus among allies and trusted partners. To learn more, click here.
Meanwhile the Philippine News Agency (PNA) published its news article about this development revealing that the Philippines officially joined the Pax Silica Initiative described as a strategic coalition among fourteen states to create a secure supply for semiconductors and AI. To read the news article, click here.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think both the Philippines and America will benefit from the planned 4,000-acre special economic security zone in the long-term?
With many nations in Asia already struggling with the very expensive prices of fuel related to the conflicts in the Middle East, their respective economic struggles are only getting worse. That said, they are very fortunate to have Japan on their side as Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae officially announced that her government will provide them financial support worth $10 billion, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government said Wednesday it will provide a total of $10 billion in financial support to other Asian nations to help them secure crude oil supplies as prices soar amid the Middle East conflict, aiming to ensure that petroleum-derived products made in those countries keep flowing into Japan.
The aid, announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following an online meeting with her counterparts mainly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is aimed at beefing up energy supply chains across the region such as through loans for procuring crude oil and petroleum products as well as expansion of stockpiles.
“Japan is closely interconnected with each Asian country through supply chains and mutually dependent with them,” Takaichi told reporters, adding that oil shortages or supply disruptions in Asia could have a “significant negative impact” on her nation’s economy and society.
The planned financial aid is equivalent to up to 1.2 billion barrels — about one year of crude oil imports by ASEAN countries, she said.
Japan imports petroleum-derived products from Southeast Asia, including items used at medical facilities. Many countries in the region maintain limited oil reserves, so there have been concerns that supply shortages could eventually affect shipments to Japan.
The surge in oil prices on the back of the war that led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transportation, has raised concerns in some Southeast Asian countries over their ability to pay for imports.
Tokyo aims to address the risks through financial support, including loans via the government-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation, according to government sources.
The Japanese prime minister emphasized that the latest supportive scheme does not include direct crude oil provisions from Japan’s reserves and therefore will not negatively affect domestic supplies.
Given its high dependence on the Middle East for crude oil imports, Japan keeps abundant oil stockpiles in the country.
The other nations that joined the Japan-led, leaders-level virtual gathering were Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the $10 billion assistance of Japan will be sufficient for the Asian nations for their oil and energy needs? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran will eventually stop harming its neighbors now that American forces have blocked all the Iranian ports to allow other ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely? Do you think the ASEAN member nations have learned their lessons about depending excessively on the Middle East for importing oil?
In the latest of the series of reforms implemented by the government of Japan, the proof of Japanese language proficiency will officially become a requirement for individuals applying for the visa status of engineer, and specialist in the fields of humanities or international services, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government has decided to require proof of Japanese language proficiency for individuals seeking the visa status of engineer, specialist in humanities or international services for work requiring Japanese, a source close to the matter said Friday.
The government plans to revise the policy as early as mid-April and tighten screening, prompted by a growing number of cases in which individuals enter the country under a visa status for professions requiring specialized knowledge but work in unskilled jobs not permitted under it.
According to the source, the revised policy will require applicants to submit documentation proving Japanese proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, equivalent to N2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Currently, the policy requires applicants to meet conditions such as a college-level education or its equivalent, as well as relevant work experience, but not Japanese proficiency.
The revision will apply to new applicants for the residence status who are entering Japan and intend to work in jobs requiring Japanese. International students seeking to transition to the status will be exempt.
It also stipulates that companies barred for five years from accepting workers under the controversial technical intern training or specified skilled worker programs due to issues such as assault or unpaid wages will also be prohibited from accepting workers under the visa status until the suspension period expires.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign residents in Japan stood at around 4.13 million as of the end of 2025.
Those staying under the visa status for engineer, specialist in humanities or international services totaled around 475,000, making them the second-largest group of foreign residents after permanent residents, who numbered about 947,000.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the new policy will create positive results with regards to those who applied for the engineer and specialist visa? Do you think Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has done enough on reforming immigration and the visa application processes?
The total number of foreigners living in Japan has exceeded four million (as of 2025) based on the official numbers released by the government, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record 4.13 million in 2025, topping 4 million for the first time, aided by a rise in permanent residents and foreign workers, government data showed Friday.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, 4,125,395 foreign nationals were residing in Japan at the end of 2025, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, hitting a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
They accounted for 3.36 percent of the country’s population, up from 3.04 percent last year. Around 947,000 were permanent residents, while 475,000 were holders of visas in specialized work fields such as engineering or the humanities.
By nationality, Chinese topped the list of foreign residents in Japan at 930,000. Vietnamese came second at around 681,000, followed by South Koreans at around 407,000.
Japan also had around 356,000 Filipinos and around 300,000 Nepalese. Sri Lankans, at around 79,000, ranked ninth, up from 12th place in 2024.
Known for its strict immigration policy, Japan has been gradually opening its doors to foreign workers in recent years as the country faces labor shortages due to the aging of society.
Its refugee recognition system is also seen as stringent. The agency announced that 187 foreigners were recognized as refugees last year, down 3 from the year before. The total includes 123 Afghans, 26 Yemenis and 11 Chinese.
Japan accepted a total of 474 people, mostly Ukrainians, under what is known as the complementary protection system that treats those fleeing conflict as equivalent to refugees. The number fell sharply, by 1,187 from 2024.
The government granted residential status to 525 people on humanitarian grounds.
The number of foreign nationals applying for refugee status dropped 8.7 percent to around 11,000. The figure has been on a downward trend since the agency introduced a plan to eliminate “illegal immigrants for the safety and security” of Japan in May last year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Japan can solve its labor shortage problem without relying on foreign immigrants? Do you think any significant changes on immigration in Japan will happen under the administration of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae over the next few years? Why do you think there are many foreigners who are applying for refugee status in Japan? Did you notice a high number of Muslim foreigners causing disturbances in Japan recently?
In what can be described as a major change on permanent residency, Japan announced that the residency period for naturalization will be doubled to ten years effective April 1, 2026, according to a news report by Kyodo News. At the same time, there will be changes on the verification period of tax payments and social insurance premiums.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government said Friday it will double the minimum residency requirement for naturalization to 10 years starting April 1.
The Justice Ministry said it will also extend the verification period for tax payments to five years and for social insurance premiums to two, both from one year currently. Those who have already applied will also be subject to the changes.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi in November to tighten the rules on acquiring Japanese nationality, saying the current conditions were too lax.
The country’s Nationality Act sets the minimum requirements for naturalization, including residing in Japan for at least five consecutive years and being a person of good conduct with adequate means of support in terms of assets or skills possessed by the applicant, spouse or relatives.
The screening process also takes into account “compatibility with Japanese society,” including the ability to speak Japanese without difficulty in daily life.
According to the ministry, extending the minimum residency requirement to 10 years is part of efforts to ensure such compatibility. The changes were included in comprehensive measures on foreign resident policy compiled in January.
For permanent residency, Japan sets detailed eligibility requirements under the immigration law, including properly fulfilling public obligations such as tax and national insurance payments, as well as a minimum residency period of 10 years.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you agree with the move of the Japanese government on extending the residency period for naturalization to ten years? Do you think the said change will ensure better chances for immigrants to become more adjusted and compatible with Japanese society? Do you think the reforms implemented will compel foreigners from Third World nations to think very seriously before applying to migrate to Japan?
Recently a survey conducted by OCTA Research and commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines revealed that almost eight out of ten Filipinos trust Japan, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
A survey of a private polling and research firm, OCTA Research, released on Monday showed that eight in 10 adult Filipinos trust Japan.
The survey, commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and conducted from December 3 to 11, 2025, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above, asked the question: “How much does the Philippines trust Japan?”
A total of 79 percent of the respondents answered they “strongly trust/somewhat trust” Japan, while at least 17 percent responded “can’t say if I trust or not”, and 4 percent have shown distrust.
This result suggests that positive perceptions of Japan are deeply embedded in Philippine public opinion.
Filipinos also trust the Japanese people, with 74 percent expressing trust and 6 percent expressing distrust. About 20 percent answered that they are undecided.
This indicates that goodwill toward Japan extends to interpersonal perceptions of Japanese citizens, according to OCTA Research.
Most or 70 percent of the respondents said they view the relationship between the Philippines and Japan as “very good” while 24 percent view it as neither good nor poor.
These favorable perceptions of Japan were observed across Metro Manila, Balance (of) Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as across socioeconomic classes.
“Cultural exchanges, tourism, educational cooperation, and the growing Filipino community in Japan contribute to familiarity and mutual goodwill between the two societies,” OCTA Research said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the governments of Japan and the Philippines should engage more with each other diplomatically, economically and militarily? Do you think Filipinos see the Japanese as an ally while the Philippines remains in conflict with Communist China at the West Philippine Sea? Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who traveled to Japan yearly?
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited Washington for the first time as the head of her nation and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House where they discussed very important matters in front of the media and officials, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Takaichi also praised the President for his peace efforts.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that Japan is ready to contribute to the safety of the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran intensifies, while explaining Tokyo’s legal constraints on sending ships from its defense forces to the region.
Takaichi told reporters after her meeting at the White House with Trump that she told the U.S. leader “in detail what Japan can do and cannot do” from a legal perspective under the country’s war-renouncing Constitution.
Trump, for his part, reiterated his expectation that Japan would be engaged, while saying during the part of their talks open to media that he believes Japan has been “stepping up to the plate” in recent days over the Iran war, “unlike NATO.”
The U.S. leader has made public his dissatisfaction with Washington’s allies, including Tokyo and members of the trans-Atlantic alliance, over their reluctance to pitch in to help secure the Hormuz strait, a vital waterway for global oil transportation now largely blocked by Iran.
“I expect Japan to step up, because, you know, we have that kind of relationship,” he said. “We have 45,000 soldiers in Japan. We have, we spend a lot of money on Japan…so I expect, I’m not surprised that they would step up.“
Noting also that more than 90 percent of Japan’s crude oil imports normally pass through the strait, Trump said Japan has a “big reason” to do more.
In affirming Japan-U.S. collaboration on expanding U.S. energy production, Takaichi said she proposed to Trump a joint oil-reserve project to ease supply concerns driven by the Middle East conflict.
At the talks, Takaichi praised Trump’s “peace” efforts, expressing readiness to assist by reaching out to other countries. “Donald is the only person who can bring peace and prosperity across the world,” she said.
Takaichi emphasized that the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Trump alluded earlier to Iran’s nuclear program to explain the U.S. decision to launch its military campaign against the country.
Facing an increasingly assertive China, Takaichi also reminded Trump that the security environment remains severe in the Indo-Pacific, at a time when reports have emerged that some U.S. military assets are being moved from the region to the Middle East.
The two leaders “committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of regional security and global prosperity” and “opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion,” the White House said in a press release without naming China.
They confirmed that their nations oppose measures threatening critical mineral supplies such as export controls, senior Japanese government officials told reporters, apparently referring to Beijing’s tighter regulations on rare earths exports.
They agreed to advance broad defense cooperation, including joint missile development and production, and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to Takaichi. The White House said the production of the interceptor Standard Missile-3 Block 2A in Japan will be quadrupled.
“We were able to affirm many concrete forms of cooperation that will further enhance the quality of our alliance in wide-ranging fields,” Takaichi said, adding that she and Trump are aiming to elevate bilateral ties to “a higher level” together.
Trump welcomed Japan buying “a lot of” U.S. military equipment. He further stressed that he has a “very fine relationship” with Takaichi, describing her as “a very special person” who is doing a “fantastic job.”
The U.S. side did not bring up fresh demands for Japan to spend more on its defense, the officials said.
Takaichi’s main goals in her first trip to the United States since taking office in October were to strengthen the personal trust in her ties with Trump and reaffirm the U.S. security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region as China’s influence grows.
The meeting came amid increasing concerns within Japan that the U.S. focus in terms of policy and military assets could shift from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East if the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran drags on, a development that would work in China’s favor.
The U.S. military has reportedly begun relocating the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and over 2,000 Marines from their bases in southwestern and southern Japan to the Middle East.
Takaichi got off to a positive start in building personal ties with Trump when they met in person for the first time in October in Tokyo, shortly after she became Japan’s first female prime minister.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Tokyo has sought to strike a delicate balance between maintaining its strong alliance with Washington and its friendly relations with Tehran.
For more insight about the Trump-Takaichi meeting, watch the videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is your impression about the many matters and announcements that happened during the Trump-Takaichi meeting at the White House? Were you surprised when it was announced that US allies Japan, Italy, England, Netherlands, Germany, and France jointly agreed to secure the Strait of Hormuz in response to Trump’s demand? With Japan having a close relationship with Trump’s America now, do you think Communist China and North Korea will feel intimidated at their side of the Pacific?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering expressing Japan’s desire to cooperate on the U.S. “Golden Dome” next-generation missile defense system at her upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
The envisaged missile defense collaboration is among the expected agreements, covering various areas from the long-standing Japan-U.S. alliance to the fields of economic security and cutting-edge technology, at the summit slated for Thursday in Washington, the sources said.
Revealed by Trump in May, the Golden Dome scheme is intended to detect and destroy hypersonic missiles, which can fly at above five times the speed of sound, in outer space in mid-flight. The total costs are estimated at $175 billion.
The trajectories of hypersonic weapons are irregular and low-altitude, making them difficult to shoot down or track by radar. China, North Korea and Russia have been aggressively pursuing such arms.
In August 2023, Tokyo and Washington agreed to develop a new type of missile to intercept hypersonic weapons, with the goal of completing it by the 2030s. It is intended that Aegis destroyers of the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will be equipped with the missile.
To enhance the missile defense system’s detecting and tracking capabilities, the U.S. military has been building a “satellite constellation” system that allows it to capture incoming missiles with high accuracy by linking multiple small satellites.
Japan’s Defense Ministry, which has also been conducting research on technologies necessary for detecting projectiles from outer space, is eyeing information sharing with the United States, the sources said.
During the summit talks, which will take place amid the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Takaichi also plans to ask Trump about purchasing crude oil produced from Alaska, according to the sources.
Japan, which relies heavily on the Middle East for its crude oil imports, has once again had its energy vulnerability exposed in the wake of the war in the region, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting oil flows.
Takaichi and Trump, meanwhile, are expected to agree on a $100 million joint project in shipbuilding, a sector both countries are keen on enhancing amid dominance by Chinese makers.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US-Japan summit this week will result in big breakthroughs with regards to defense, economics and energy? What do you hope to see happen after President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi meet in Washington? Do you think the Golden Dome missile defense project will be fully realized and operational in the years to come?
Author Carlo Carrasco 