With the recent 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, global security remains a pressing concern for Japan and the U.S. Washington is managing at least two complex geopolitical conflicts, in Ukraine and the Middle East, while grappling with a new, potentially more sensitive one in Taiwan. Under these conditions, Japan is in a position to play an even greater geopolitical role than simply a regional counterweight to China.
As the postwar international order continues to shift, few actions would do more to further Japan’s national interests than joining the Abraham Accords.
As the postwar international order continues to shift, few actions would do more to further Japan’s national interests than joining the Abraham Accords. This would send a potent signal to the Middle East and the world that Japan is ready to be a long-term partner to building peace in this region. Equally important, it would enhance Japan’s alliance with the U.S. outside the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating Japan’s global relevance.
Doesn’t Japan already have relations with Israel? Yes, and so did Kazakhstan before it joined the Abraham Accords in November. This move signaled that the Accords are no longer merely about making peace with Israel. They are now a means of building and cementing a larger, U.S.-led regional alliance, which includes Israel.
Japan is already a vital partner to the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific, but it can also be a capable, multi-front strategic ally aligned with broader American interests. In this context, Washington’s emphasis in the recent National Security Strategy on partnership, friendship and investment in the Middle East as key drivers of peace presents Japan with a timely and strategic opportunity.
Japan is the natural linchpin in a new era of Indo-Pacific-Middle East relations. It maintains strong relations with every capital in the Middle East, while being the only non-Western technological superpower whose economic model is based on a free, open and inclusive society.
Japan normalized relations with Israel in 1952, the first Asian nation to do so. In recent years ties between the two countries have blossomed. In addition, Japan’s close ties with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, India and the U.S. form structural buttresses as Middle Eastern countries undergo their own pivot toward the Indo-Pacific region.
Membership in the Abraham Accords would align with Prime Minister Takaichi’s positions favoring a stronger self-defense and a desire for a strong relationship with the U.S.
Joining the Abraham Accords would signal an awareness that only a network of reliable alliances can adequately support newer Middle East peace arrangements. With the U.S. stretched across multiple theaters, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces an early test. She must rethink the scope of Japan’s security dialogue with its vital ally and reconsider how Tokyo presents itself to the world.
Membership in the Abraham Accords would align with Prime Minister Takaichi’s positions favoring a stronger self-defense and a desire for a strong relationship with the U.S. With her nation now at a crossroads, the new premier can guide Japan to become a genuinely multi-theater partner and thereby draw support against China’s rise, especially as it might play out in Taiwan.
Andrew M. Saidel is CEO of Dynamic Strategies Asia LLC.
Published originally on January 5, 2026.
