Japan Denies US Ambassador's Claim of SDF Deployment 'Promise', Sparking Diplomatic Controversy
A statement by the US Ambassador to the UN, made after the Japan-US summit, claiming that the Japanese Prime Minister had “promised” support from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), has sparked widespread controversy. In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara explicitly denied any such agreement, stating there was “no factual basis for a specific promise,” highlighting a clear divergence in understanding between Japan and the United States. The controversy originated from the US Ambassador’s assertion that the Japanese Prime Minister had “promised” SDF support for ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amidst the Middle East situation. This statement garnered significant attention on Japanese social media, with “US Ambassador to UN” becoming a trending topic. However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara vehemently denied to multiple media outlets that the Prime Minister had promised the dispatch of the SDF. The prevailing view is that the Prime Minister’s remark during the meeting, “...