FILE PHOTO: Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive for a meeting with South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoonjoo (not pictured) on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 11, 2025. - Pool via Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (Jully 11) played down concerns about relations with key US ally Japan, saying there is no "drama or division," despite the Japanese prime minister speaking of the need for Tokyo to wean itself off US dependence.
In remarks to reporters, Rubio also disputed reports of US pressure on Japan to significantly increase its defence spending, saying that while Washington was "encouraging" Tokyo to invest in certain capabilities, this did not amount to a "demand." "It's less to do with the amount of money and more to do about certain things they can do," he said after attending a regional meeting in Malaysia.
