U.S., Japan defense chiefs reaffirm nuclear deterrence, blast Russia

Kishi and Austin discuss coordinating security strategy updates

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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Wednesday with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. (Nikkei montage/Austin photo by AP)

SHUNSUKE SHIGETA, Nikkei staff writer

WASHINGTON -- Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and American counterpart Lloyd Austin agreed on Wednesday to maintain U.S. nuclear deterrence and align the two nations' security strategies in light of new challenges that emerged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Russia's baseless and "reckless invasion of Ukraine is an affront to the rules-based international order, and it poses a challenge to free people everywhere," Austin said at the start of the 75-minute meeting. 

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