Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says her government is prioritising the safety of Japanese nationals after the U.S. raid in Venezuela, reaffirming Japan’s support for a rapid restoration of democracy and vowing to work with G7 and regional partners to stabilise the situation while upholding freedom, democracy and the rule of law. She adds that Tokyo will keep an open channel with China under a “mutually beneficial” strategic relationship even amid rapid security shifts, citing China and North Korea’s growing military power, tighter China–Russia and Russia–North Korea links, and lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as reasons Japan will consider updating its key security strategy documents again this year.