Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney caught Australians' attention with his argument that middle powers have to come together to counter both Beijing and Washington but Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has chosen instead to double down on the alliance with America. That has been the pattern across the Indo-Pacific where support for close security ties with America is at record highs despite trust in America being at record lows.
Takaichi clearly does not think that there is a "Plan B" without America for Japan or even for NATO. Is Japan's strategy working? Has Takaichi read U.S. politics and Indo-Pacific geopolitics right?
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney caught Australians' attention with his argument that middle powers have to come together to counter both Beijing and Washington but Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has chosen instead to double down on the alliance with America. That has been the pattern across the Indo-Pacific where support for close security ties with America is at record highs despite trust in America being at record lows.
Takaichi clearly does not think that there is a "Plan B" without America for Japan or even for NATO. Is Japan's strategy working? Has Takaichi read U.S. politics and Indo-Pacific geopolitics right?
