Prime Minister Abe said Wednesday he would like the newly revised security alliance with the United States to cover the Indian Ocean as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
Abe, who is currently visiting the United States, made the remark a day after he and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the importance of the guidelines, which would ease restrictions on the Self-Defense Forces when it comes to conducting operations with the U.S. military overseas.
"With Japan and the United States joining hands, we want to ensure peace and stability in an area ranging from the Asia-Pacific to the Indian Ocean," Abe told an event in Washington.