「同盟の未来、明るく強固に」　岸田氏の退陣表明で声明―バイデン米大統領

　【ワシントン時事】バイデン米大統領は１４日、岸田文雄首相の退陣表明を受けて声明を発表し、「岸田首相の指導力のおかげで、日米同盟の未来はかつてないほど強く、明るいものとなった」と両国関係強化における貢献をたたえた。
　バイデン氏は、反撃能力の保有を明記した国家安全保障戦略の策定や、ロシアの侵攻を受けたウクライナへの支援、日米韓３カ国協力の推進などを挙げ、岸田氏が「世界における日本の役割を変えた」と指摘。「勇敢なリーダーシップは、太平洋の両岸で今後数十年にわたり記憶されるだろう。彼を友人と呼べることは幸いだ」と述べた。
　バイデン氏は岸田氏と約３年間にわたり信頼関係を構築。４月には国賓待遇でワシントンに招き、日米同盟を「新たな高み」（バイデン氏）へと引き上げた。一方、両氏とも支持率低迷に悩まされ、最後は再選断念に追い込まれた。（2024/08/15-06:17）

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday praised Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership in strengthening ties between their countries.
   "Put simply, thanks to Prime Minister Kishida's leadership, the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance is stronger and brighter than ever," Biden said in a statement after the Japanese leader announced a decision to step down.
   Kishida said earlier on Wednesday that he does not seek re-election in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race in September.
   Biden said, "Kishida has transformed Japan's role in the world," citing the rollout of a new national security strategy, support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion and promotion of trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea.
   "Kishida's courageous leadership will be remembered on both sides of the Pacific for decades to come, and I will always be grateful to call him my friend," Biden said.