The Vice President spoke last night with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to congratulate him on his party’s success in the December 14th elections. The Vice President expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Abe’s efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, and the leaders agreed on the importance of concluding the revision of U.S.-Japan defense guidelines and Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The Vice President thanked Prime Minister Abe for his leadership on a range of regional and global issues, including Ebola response, combatting climate change through Japan’s pledges to the Green Climate Fund, countering the threat posed by ISIL, economic support for Ukraine, and continued pressure on Russia to abide by its commitments; and the two leaders agreed to continue their cooperation on these issues. Prime Minister Abe also welcomed U.S. policy changes regarding Cuba.