Japan’s Prime Minister Sends a Message to Republicans on Ukraine

“I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during his joint address.

US Congress Japan PM Fumio Kishida
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s address during a joint meeting of Congress was largely met with standing ovations and applause. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, addressed the United States Congress with a clear message for House Republicans: help fund Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.

Fresh off a state dinner with President Joe Biden, Kishida’s joint address to Congress left little question about how the world sees the United States’ stalemate over Ukraine aid.

“Freedom and democracy are currently under threat around the globe,” Kishida said. “As we meet here today, I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be.”