Abe Shinzō’s long duration in office brought to Japan strategic vision, international respect, and a forward-leaning commitment to strengthen Japan’s defenses and uphold the major tenants of the international order. This article examines Abe’s achievements in the security and foreign policy domains. Specifically, it examines his domestic achievements in establishing the National Security Strategy and National Security Council, reinterpreting Japan’s ability to exercise its right to collective self-defense, passing a suite of security legislation, and strengthening of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. It also examines Abe’s foreign policy achievements of increasing Japan’s international presence and global role, expanding Japans’ strategic ties, creating and exporting a strategic framing vision called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and helping to establish the grouping of four maritime democracies called the Quad. The article argues that Abe’s desire for Japan to play a larger, more proactive role helped leave Japan—and the region—in a stronger place.

安倍晋三的长期执政为日本带来了战略眼光、国际尊重以及加强日本防御和维护国际秩序主要租户的前瞻性承诺。本文考察了安倍在安全和外交政策领域的成就。具体而言，它审查了他在建立国家安全战略和国家安全委员会、重新解释日本行使集体自卫权的能力、通过一套安全立法以及加强日本自卫队方面的国内成就。它还审查了安倍的外交政策成就，包括增加日本的国际影响力和全球作用、扩大日本的战略联系、创建和输出称为自由和开放的印太地区的战略框架愿景，并帮助建立四个海上民主国家集团，称为 Quad。文章认为，安倍希望日本发挥更大、更积极的作用，这有助于让日本——以及该地区——处于一个更强大的位置。