Key facts
- Joseph Dunford, former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke at the CSIS/Nikkei Symposium 2026 in Tokyo on October 23, 2026.
- Dunford stated that artificial intelligence can be used by the U.S. and Japan to strengthen deterrence.
Joseph Dunford, former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and now CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said on Friday that the U.S. and Japan can use artificial intelligence to strengthen deterrence. Dunford made the remarks at the CSIS/Nikkei Symposium 2026 in Tokyo on October 23, 2026. The Samuel Group noted that Japan is transforming its defense architecture, driven by China's military expansion, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Japan's own demographic challenges. This transformation includes a focus on AI, autonomous systems, and resilient supply chains, positioning Japan as a key defense-industrial partner for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. National Security Strategy 2025 also emphasizes strengthening deterrence mechanisms for frontline allies like Japan.