Ho-hum. That seems to be the reaction to the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-U.S. Mutual Security Treaty, a landmark achievement marked Sunday by ... very little, except for the statements by top government leaders on both sides. Business as usual might be a good thing, a sign of both countries' widespread acceptance of the integral nature of the alliance. Taking the alliance for granted seems risky, however, especially at a time of immense churn in international relations.
Six decades is a remarkable achievement by any measure: Defense alliances have a median and average age of 15 years; about half existed just six years or less. The longevity of the Japan-U.S. security partnership is even more impressive given the vast distance between the two countries in terms of culture, history and location, the immense disparity in their capabilities (and obligations) and the transformation of the security environment in which it operates. The two governments deserve great credit for its durability and resilience.
Special thanks are owed to alliance managers who have toiled throughout that time to align the two countries' often unwieldy bureaucracies and resolve periodic crises. They will have no time to rest on their laurels, however: the alliance will soon face some of its most difficult challenges ever.