From the Dec 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor until the US-Japan Security Treaty of September 1951 we went from fierce enemies to strong Allies in just 10 years...occasionally US foreign policy and international security relations gets something right 🇺🇸 🇯🇵
https://lnkd.in/enZ2eJux
"...the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which heavily damaged the US naval base...opening the Pacific theater of World War II. The United States made a massive investment in naval power and systematically destroyed Japan's offensive capabilities while island hopping across the Pacific. To force a surrender, the Americans systematically bombed Japanese cities, culminating in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Japan surrendered, and was subjected to seven years of military occupation by the United States, during which the Americans under General Douglas MacArthur eliminated militarism and rebuilt the country's economic and political systems to transform Japan into a democracy.
In the 1950s and 1960s Japan entered into a military alliance with the United States, and experienced unprecedented economic growth by sheltering under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, taking full advantage of U.S.-backed free trade schemes, and supplying American wars in Korea and Vietnam. Japanese exports to the United States dramatically expanded in the postwar period, with Japanese automobiles and consumer electronics being especially popular, and Japan became the world's second largest economy after the United States (in 2010 it dropped to third place after China). From the late 20th century and onwards, the United States and Japan have had firm and active political, economic and military relationships. US government officials generally consider Japan to be one of its closest allies and partners. Most Americans generally perceive Japan positively, with 84% viewing Japan favorably in 2021; however, few Americans consider Japan one of their closest allies in public opinion polls, with only 1% of Americans picking Japan as their most important foreign policy partners, far behind other key American allies, according to a 2021 Pew survey. In a New York Times analysis of YouGov data in 2017, American survey respondents ranked Japan as their 21st closest ally, also behind other key American allies. Japan is currently one of the most pro-American countries in the world, with 67% of Japanese viewing the United States favorably, according to a 2018 Pew survey; and 75% saying they trust the United States as opposed to 7% for China. In a 2019 Pew survey, 63% of people in Japan named the United States their closest ally, far higher than any other country named by Japanese respondents."
On this #NationalPearlHarborRemembranceDay, we reflect on the attack 83 years ago that changed the course of history and we remember the service, bravery and most importantly, the sacrifice of all who defended our nation’s freedom. #VFWSalute
![VFW Remembers Pearl Harbor]()
VFW Remembers Pearl Harbor
vfw.org