In a historic move, President Joe Biden is set to host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit in Washington DC on April 10, marking a significant effort to strengthen the alliance between the United States and Japan. The visit will include a formal state dinner, highlighting the importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The visit is seen as a crucial step in countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as addressing other threats and challenges in the area. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasized that Japan is one of the United States' closest allies, and that the visit will underscore the importance of the alliance.

During the state visit, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida are expected to have a robust discussion on deepening bilateral cooperation with Japan and improving alliance capabilities across the board. Additionally, the leaders will likely discuss how to enhance cooperation with South Korea, addressing the three-way relationship between the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The visit comes at a time when the United States is reviewing the national security implications of Japan's Nippon Steel plans to acquire U.S. Steel for approximately $14.1 billion.

While it remains to be seen whether this potential merger will be a subject of discussion during the state visit, the overall focus will be on strengthening the alliance between the two countries and addressing key issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The state visit of Prime Minister Kishida follows a landmark summit that took place at President Biden's Camp David retreat eight months ago, where Kishida and South Korea's premier were hosted for a pivotal meeting that rattled China. This upcoming visit is expected to further solidify the alliance between the United States and Japan, and address critical issues in the Indo-Pacific region.