Abe and Trump’s Legacy? Deconstructing Japan and  the United States’ Strategic Narratives of the Indo Pacific

Švárová Kristýna1, Kolmaš Michal2

Abstract
The article seeks to investigate the motivations for the Indo-Pacific in Japan and the United States. It challenges the assumption that there is a shared vision between the two countries despite their significant similarities in their terminology around the Indo-Pacific. Building on a strategic narrative framework, and the methodology of qualitative content analysis of Indo-Pacific related primary documents of both parties between 2016 and 2021, the article puts forward the argument that while both countries prioritize regional stability in the IndoPacific region, their narratives reflect distinct national interests and visions for the IndoPacific. While Washington’s narrative corresponds to its underlying national interest, Japan’s narrative encapsulates its vision of a viable regional order. These findings question the validity of the literature linking the foreign policies of the two countries and provide a rigorous analysis of the formation and proliferation of their narrative strategies.

Keywords
Strategic Narrative, Content Analysis, Indo-Pacific, Japan, Shinzo Abe, the United States, Donald Trump, Free and Open Indo-Pacific