「核の傘」信頼性強調　米国防長官、岸防衛相と会談

　【ワシントン時事】岸信夫防衛相は４日、訪問先の米ワシントンでオースティン国防長官と約７５分間会談した。オースティン氏はロシアのウクライナ侵攻や中国の覇権主義的な動きに触れた上で、米国による「核の傘」提供を含む拡大抑止の信頼性を強調。岸氏は引き続き米国が拡大抑止の維持・強化に取り組むことを求めた。
　両氏はロシアの軍事侵攻について、「国際秩序に対する深刻な挑戦であり断じて容認できない」との認識で一致した。（2022/05/05-11:26）

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, meeting with visiting Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on Wednesday, underscored the credibility of the U.S. extended deterrence, including offering the nuclear umbrella, while touching on China's hegemonic activities and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
   Kishi told the Pentagon chief that Japan wants the United States to continue working to maintain and strengthen its extended deterrence.
   They agreed that Russia's military aggression in Ukraine is a serious challenge to the international order and can never be permitted.
   Austin reaffirmed the United States' "unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan to include our extended deterrence commitments using our full range of conventional and nuclear capabilities," apparently trying to reassure the East Asian ally about the effectiveness of the U.S. extended deterrence as Russia has been repeatedly threatening Ukraine on the back of its nuclear capabilities.
   Kishi said Japan hopes that the United States will work to ensure that its extended deterrence will continue to be strong and credible.