Mario did not disappoint Yanaev's expectations. Soon after taking office, he announced a state visit to Japan — making Japan the first country the new U.S. president visited. But peace and goodwill were nowhere in sight. This trip was all about expanding military trade between the United States and Japan, a strategic move to contain the Soviet Union.
The memory of last October's diplomatic clash over the Northern Four Islands still stung in Tokyo. The Soviet Union's blunt message was clear: Japan would have to go to war to reclaim those islands, or else forget about regaining the Southern Kurils by diplomacy.
The fallout was immediate. Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki resigned in disgrace, but he left Defense Agency head Nakatani Gen in place — a figure poised to reform Japan's Self-Defense Forces. However, Nakatani's plans hit a wall when the doveish Miyazawa Kiichi came to power. Miyazawa's government sought to improve relations with China and the Soviet Union, favoring dialogue over military posturing.
Nakatani, frustrated and nearly ready to quit, suddenly saw a ray of hope in Mario's arrival. A freshly sworn-in U.S. president rushing to Tokyo to discuss arms deals could only mean one thing: new military support.
When Mario met with Prime Minister Miyazawa, Nakatani quietly reached out to the U.S. president. He made it clear that Japan's Self-Defense Forces urgently needed to upgrade their air capabilities to counter the Soviet threat.
"But don't you already have the FS-X fighter program underway?" Mario asked. "The detailed designs were completed last year, the test model flew successfully in October, and production is imminent."
Nakatani nodded grimly. "We do, but it's not enough. The F2 fighters won't be ready soon enough. We still need more F-15s and F-16s from the U.S. to hold off Soviet provocations. And politically, I hope you will pressure Prime Minister Miyazawa to support these upgrades."
Mario smiled knowingly. "You have my full support. I'll speak with the Prime Minister personally during my visit. It's important our allies strengthen their military to face northern threats."
Nakatani bowed slightly, struggling with English but sincere. "Thank you, President. Japan will never forget your support."
Privately, the two men sealed a deal for arms sales.
But when Mario later publicly proposed selling F-16 fighters to Japan during his talks with Miyazawa, the Prime Minister politely but firmly declined.
"We are committed to improving relations with our neighbors," Miyazawa stated. "Territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully at the negotiating table. Japan does not seek force or intimidation."
Mario's face darkened. "Are you living up to the people's expectations? Prime Minister Kaifu resigned after failing over the Northern Four Islands. The Soviet Union is eyeing those islands again. Without modernizing your military, how will you even intercept Soviet bomber incursions?"
Miyazawa's eyes narrowed. "Mr. President, is this a threat? Japan may not be a military power, but we are the world's second-largest economy."
Mario smiled, shaking his head. "The world's second-largest economy? So what? Did you know the Soviet carrier Varyag is nearly ready to launch? And their new fourth-generation carrier Ulyanovsk is 70% complete? These will join the Pacific Fleet soon. When faced with such military might, can your economy alone protect Japan? No — only your Maritime Self-Defense Force can meet this threat."
Mario's words struck Miyazawa hard.
At that moment, Defense Agency Director Nakatani added fuel to the fire: "Yes. The Varyag's mission is to threaten Japan's northern islands. That's no secret."
"Therefore, if we don't upgrade the Air Self-Defense Force's equipment," Nakatani Gen emphasized, deliberately amplifying the threat, "it will be difficult to halt the Soviet Navy's advance. When that happens, Japan won't just lose the struggle over the Northern Four Islands — it'll be a question of whether we can even keep the country intact."
Mario smiled faintly, his tone courteous but edged with a clear warning. "The economic situation in Japan hasn't been good recently. If some of the US-Japan cooperation projects shift to South Korea, I fear that could seriously damage your economy, wouldn't you agree?"
Miyazawa Kiichi felt the weight behind Mario's words. Under the combined pressure from the Soviet threat invoked by Mario and Nakatani, he found himself cornered into accepting the arms procurement project — just as Japan had once been forced to abandon its independent fighter jet development plans at the insistence of American chaebols.
"Are you threatening us again, like when you forced us to change the air force bidding plan?" Miyazawa asked, trying to push back.
But against the overwhelming power of the United States, his protest sounded weak and futile. Diplomacy is always dictated by strength, and bound by the US-Japan Security Treaty, Japan had little leverage in front of its dominant ally.
Mario ignored Miyazawa's question altogether. Without even seeking the Prime Minister's opinion, he turned to Nakatani directly. "If possible, could we sign the contract alongside the economic cooperation project?"
"It would be my honor," Nakatani replied without hesitation.
Miyazawa's lips twitched, but he remained silent.
The cooperation deal included four F-16 fighter jets, five Black Hawks, and fifteen Sidewinder missiles. It was clear to all that Miyazawa had agreed to a humiliating treaty — one forced upon him by domestic right-wing factions and the American military-industrial complex. As a peace-minded leader, he had no political support to resist.
Meanwhile, the hawkish Self-Defense Forces quietly celebrated their victory. Chief of Air Staff Suzuki Akio accepted the new equipment with a broad smile, quickly deploying them to bases in Hokkaido. The message was unmistakable: Japan's Air Self-Defense Force was gearing up to challenge the Soviet Air Force and Navy over the Northern Four Islands.
Miyazawa Kiichi sighed deeply, bitterly blaming himself. "It was my incompetence that destroyed Japan's hard-earned peace."
But Nakatani Gen's ambitions only grew. He was determined to strengthen the Self-Defense Forces further — building a powerful military force that would become an unignorable player in East Asia's complex security landscape.