U.S. Secretary of Navy Carlos Del Toro embarked on his third official trip to Japan this month to bolster maritime cooperation and shipbuilding capabilities between the two nations.
The two-day visit began with a luncheon, hosted by U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, between Del Toro and leading figures from Japan’s shipbuilding industry, among them the president of Namura Shipbuilding Co. and the senior vice president of Integrated Defense and Space Systems of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Discussions focused on the prospect of integrating commercial and naval shipbuilding facilities within the U.S. and the possibility of inviting Japanese investors to these ventures.
Day Two saw Del Toro’s itinerary packed with high-level meetings, including engagements with Japan’s national security advisor, minister of defense, and head of the navy, as well as with a tour of Mitsubishi’s shipyard in Yokohama.
The visit is a vital part of Del Toro’s ambitious “Maritime Statecraft Strategy,” which calls for the modernization and expansion of the U.S. shipbuilding industry through strategic partnerships with allies like Japan and South Korea.
Last year, in an address to the Harvard Kennedy School, Del Toro highlighted the vast potential for collaboration with allies such as Japan, saying: “The U.S. maritime industry is ripe with opportunity to partner with our closest allies overseas.”
Through his strategy, the secretary of the navy hopes to convince the world’s most advanced shipbuilding companies to the U.S. and invest in its commercial shipyards, which would fortify the nation’s shipbuilding capabilities and cultivate a skilled workforce.
“The U.S.-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. I am here to reaffirm the Department of the Navy’s long-standing partnership with the defense forces of Japan and to strengthen that partnership even further,” Del Toro said during his visit.
Secretary Del Toro’s visits strengthen the foundation for a multifaceted partnership, one that transcends economics and is characterized by a collaborative approach.
