Japan ‘closely watching’ how Biden’s withdrawal could affect bilateral relations – Observer

Japan’s prime minister said Monday he was “watching closely” how US President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race could affect relations between Tokyo and Washington.

“I understand that this it is a decision with the intention of making the best political decision for Biden“, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters, hours after the US President’s announcement was released.

Kishida noted that the Japan-US alliance “is the cornerstone of Tokyo’s diplomacy and security” and promised to “closely watch future developments” in the world’s largest economy, he said, as quoted by The Japan Times.

The US President announced on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the presidential election race, justifying this with the interests of the Democratic Party and the country and stating that he intends to finish his term.

The US leader said he had “the greatest honor” of his life in the role he has held for almost four years, but he gave in to pressure from his own party after his poor performance in the first televised debate, last June, in the race for the White House against the former President (2017-2021) and Republican candidate, Donald Trump.

Shortly after announcing his withdrawal, Joe Biden declared his “full support” for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the November 5 elections.