US and Japan consider strengthening military ties, benefiting Ukraine
Photo: Mandel Ngan / Pool Photo via AP
The governments of the United States and Japan are discussing cooperation in the field of ammunition production and repair of military equipment. Thanks to this, the United States will be able to provide Ukraine with a larger number of shells.
Bloomberg reports this with reference to the Japanese publication Yomiuri.
Since American arms manufacturers provided Ukraine with their products as part of military support, the stocks of artillery shells and missiles in the United States began to run out.
Therefore, during the meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden, which will take place on April 10, they will agree to strengthen cooperation between the countries' defense industries.
If it is feasible to ease Tokyo's limitations on military exports, the United States could restock its armory and thus supply weapons to Ukraine faster.
In addition, Japan and the U.S. could agree to have Japanese companies maintain and repair U.S. military equipment, including ships and F-35A fighter jets.
Last year, in December, the Japanese government allowed the sale of licensed weapons back to the country of origin.
Thanks to this, the US received a more significant number of Patriot systems, which "gave more flexibility" to support the air defense of Ukraine.
For reference:
Patriot air defense systems have already saved thousands of lives in Ukraine. The systems of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex successfully repel ballistic missiles of the Russian Federation, which could cause massive losses and destruction.
It should be noted that when the first ballistic missile was shot down – on May 4 – everyone was amazed, but after that, "confidence in the equipment increased".
In May and June, during one of the most massive attacks using drones, cruise missiles, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, two Ukrainian Patriot batteries shot down all 34 ballistic missiles that Russia fired at Kyiv, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The complex constantly moves from place to place, so the Russians cannot find where the installation is.
"We managed to create a shield over the state thanks to our foreign partners.
But if our foreign partners turn their backs on us, we will return to the beginning of the war, when people simply did not come out of their shelters, and the Russians tried to turn our cities into complete ruins," Zelensky emphasized.
On January 2, according to the information of the Kyiv City Military Administration, the air defense forces hit all Shahed-type attack drones, more than 60 Kh-101/Kh555Kh-55 missiles, and a dozen Kinzhal missiles in the Kyiv area.
