Last week's summit between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush ushered in a new era for the Japan-U.S. security alliance: The bilateral system is beginning to change into a global alliance.
Against this backdrop is the growing threat of international terrorism and common fears about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Even the United States, the sole superpower since the end of the Cold War, is unable to fight these problems alone and has been forced to establish a joint international front for the purpose.
Complicating the situation is the U.S.-European rift over the Iraq war and intensifying competition for leadership in establishing an international order.