LNG and Strategic Diplomacy Between The U.S.-Japan: Past, Present, And Future

The diplomatic relationship between the United States (US) and Japan has been one of the most stable and enduring in the post-World War II period. The two countries have maintained close ties for nearly seven decades in the domains of security, trade, science and technology, and culture. This trust-based relationship also extends to the energy domain and has been solidified through mutual efforts due to energy security concerns. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) cooperation has become an important facet of US-Japan energy diplomacy. The US is the world’s preeminent LNG exporter, while Japan is among the largest LNG importers that will continue to rely on LNG for its energy supply for the foreseeable future. In this chapter, we first identify the key actors in the energy industry and policy landscapes in the US and Japan. Then, we examine US-Japan energy diplomacy in a historical context, with a particular emphasis on the role of LNG in both countries’ energy strategies. The fourth section analyzes how US-Japan LNG cooperation has responded to two recent events of global significance: the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th US president. The last section concludes with an outlook for the future of US-Japan LNG cooperation in the short- to medium-term.