14 JUNE 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Japanese Prime Minister on Relations In a speech to the U.S. Congress on April 11, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida re ected on the longstanding friendship, or tomodachi, between Japan and the United States. In “For the Future: Our Global Partnership,” Kishida a rmed Japan’s commitment to partner with the United States in addressing pressing global issues. “The U.S. shaped the international order in the postwar world through economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power. It championed freedom and democracy,” Kishida said. He went on to address partisan divisions on issues such as foreign war aid: “I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be.” Concerns about Russian aggression, stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and rapid development of AI emerged as themes that demand, in Kishida’s eyes, a globally active and engaged United States. “I want to address those Americans who feel the loneliness and exhaustion of being the country that has upheld the international order almost singlehandedly,” Kishida stated. “You are not alone.” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to Congress on April 11, 2024. PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE OF JAPAN Cherry trees bloom in Washington, D.C., April 2024. AFSA/MARK PARKHOMENKO In anticipation of the National Park Service’s rehabilitation project at the Tidal Basin, Kishida said Japan is gifting the United States 250 cherry trees as a gesture of friendship. The new trees will serve as a symbolic gift for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026. New State-DoD Agreement on DETOs First Lady Jill Biden hosted an April 17 signing of a DoD Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Departments of State and Defense on Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs). After many months of negotiations, the MOA should reduce some major pain points among certain FS families. The MOA facilitates DETOs for U.S. government employees authorized to accompany DoD sponsors on assignments abroad. It will cover any AFSA member wishing to convert to a DETO position when their DoD spouse has an authorized post change of station (PCS). The MOA clarifies standard operating procedures between State and DoD that will enable our Foreign Service families to stay together by allowing DETO work in areas where DoD has established Military Housing Offices serving military communities. Diplomatic Push in Middle East On April 23, the U.S. Senate passed a security supplemental bill providing $95 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. e bill cleared the House of Representatives on April 20; President Biden signed it on April 24. e legislation provides $26 billion in wartime assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief to Gaza. On April 25, the Biden administration announced the appointment of
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