The U.S.-Japan security alliance is at a crossroads. The outcome of certain decisions to be made in 1998—the Japanese Diet's vote on legislation necessary to implement the new U.S.-Japan Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), and the nature of Japan's participation in the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system with the United States—will determine the path of the security relationship for years to come. One course will lead to a weakening of the alliance, with reduced obligations and expectations on both sides. The other is a path toward strengthening the alliance, with a greater mutual commitment to dealing with the Asian security challenges of the 21st century.

The Asian financial market meltdown and the fierce debate over the U.S. role in a bail-out tend to obscure the huge scale of American exports to the region, currently $200 billion a year. Washington's efforts to promote U.S. exports to Asia are equally controversial, having been tarred by the "Huang-gate" hearings on illegal campaign donations and accusations of political favoritism and corporate welfare.

The issue of the future of U.S.-Japan security ties is an extremely timely one. Events such as the rape incident in Okinawa and massive public demonstrations in Japan against the U.S. troop presence call into question the long-term stability of the alliance between the two nations. This study group is undertaking an investigation into U.S.-Japanese relations with the premise that the United States urgently needs to reexamine current assumptions about this "immutable" relationship.

CFR's Director of Studies James Lindsay and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead.

In this week's podcast: the United Nations discusses operations in Libya; Republican presidential candidates react to the news from Tripoli; Japan’s governing party picks a new prime minister.

CFR's Japan expert Sheila Smith says U.S.-Japan relations remain important for both governments, but the issue of realigning U.S. military forces in Japan will continue to be a difficult challenge.

From the March/April 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs: The current U.S. financial crisis is not like Japan's "lost decade" of the 1990s.

Ahead of September 22 elections that will anoint Japan's next prime minister, CFR's Sheila Smith discusses the country's leadership troubles, economic concerns, and a declining role on the international stage.

CFR Senior Fellow Sheila A. Smith argues that the time has come for Japan and the United States to set priorities for military missions, formalize mechanisms for crisis management coordination, and work toward a long-term basing strategy that consolidates U.S. and Japanese facilities.

Ambassador of Japan to the United States H.E. Kenichiro Sasae spoke at Brookings in Washington, D.C. on March 22, 2013.

President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Abe made these remarks after their meeting on February 22, 2013.

President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Abe released this statement after their meeting on February 22, 2013, regarding trade relations.

Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes held this conference call with National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Danny Russel and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Mike Froman, to preview Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's visit to Washington, on February 22, 2013.

Foreign Ministry of Japan updated Japan's official position on the Senkaku Islands, entitled "Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands," in February 2013. The Foreign Ministry of China also provided its position on the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Dao).

The Foreign Ministry of Japan released this Q&A on the Senkaku Islands.

The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China released this white paper entitled "Diaoyu Dao, an Inherent Territory of China." The Foreign Ministry of Japan also provided its position on the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Dao).

President Obama and Prime Minister Noda of Japan gave this joint press conference in Washington, DC on April 30, 2012.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense released the 2011 issue of this annual white paper on defense in September 2011. The report covers Japan's surrounding security environment, Japan's defense policy and and build-up of defense capability, and measures for Japan's defense.