The evolution of America’s implicit support of EU–Japan security relations

This chapter seeks to make U.S. views of EU–Japan security cooperation explicit. After an examination of U.S. strategic documents and agreements/statements with the EU and Japan, the chapter argues there has been an almost three-decade long growth of implicit U.S. support for Brussels and Tokyo taking on greater security roles and many of the activities they seek to perform. This is because it is in U.S. interests for “potential” EU–Japan security cooperation to become “actual.” In particular, while aiding U.S. interests, greater EU–Japan security cooperation can adversely affect China as it promises to be a target of joint efforts.