For the first time, the U.S. and Japan have discussed guidelines for the possible use of nuclear weapons by the U.S. in the event of a contingency, during talks on so-called extended deterrence. The talks began in December 2024, according to a July 26 report by Japan’s Kyodo News.
As part of the extended deterrence talks in recent years, Tokyo and Washington have held multiple tabletop exercises to strategize a scenario in which a conflict broke out in East Asia and the United States is pressured to use nuclear weapons, according to Kyodo sources. With that in mind, Japan and the United States reviewed how to coordinate and how to deal with issues stemming from the possible use of nuclear weapons, such as managing public opinion. Discussions also broached how much information the United States can share with Japan, the sources said.
In December, the countries announced their first guidelines for extended deterrence—including U.S. nuclear protection—supposedly to better tackle regional security challenges. Details of the guidelines were not released but diplomatic sources told Kyodo that the guidelines stipulated the steps the countries would take should the United States use nuclear weapons under Article 5 of the bilateral security pact. Article 5 obliges the United States to defend territories under Japan’s administration from armed attack. The sources close to the nations also said the guidelines made it clear that Japan can convey its thoughts on a possible nuclear weapons use.
