On August 6, 1945, in the midst of World War II, the first and only nuclear bomb was dropped. Given the name “Little Boy,” the United States dropped the nuclear bomb out of an American B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, over Hiroshima, Japan at 8:15 in the morning. Initially, 80,000 people were killed when the bomb was dropped, but a year later the total number of deaths spiked to 90,000 -166,000 due to injury and radiation. Not only were deaths inflicted, but the city was severely destroyed and devastated with roughly 70 percent of the city’s buildings being destroyed. In addition to Hiroshima, a nuclear bomb was also dropped on Nagasaki towards the end of World War II. After wreaking havoc, chaos, and destruction on these two Japanese cities, World War II eventually ended on September 2, 1945 with an American victory. No United States president has been to Hiroshima since the nuclear bomb was dropped, but that will all change on May 27 when President Obama will the first historic visit to the site.

Following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of World War II, the United States formed an alliance with Japan and have been allies ever since. In order to deter their new ally from developing nuclear weapons, the United States provided Japan with a security guarantee in which they vow to protect the state, while preventing them from nuclear proliferation. Ever since World War II and even more recently the Cold War, the United States tried to prevent other states from developing nuclear weapons by providing them with the same security guarantee.

This has been especially successful in Europe, but the United States has not been able to prevent states such as Russia, North Korea, China, and Pakistan from advancing their nuclear arsenal and technologies. At the beginning of his presidency, President Obama made it a goal of his to try to rid the international community of nuclear weapons and his visit to Hiroshima reflects this goal.

During his visit to Hiroshima, Obama is expected to give a speech on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. It is reported that Obama is not expected to give an apology for bombing during World War II, but rather be a speech about the future of the two countries with their alliance and shared interests. In addition, Obama is expected to pay respects and honor those United States service members who fought and served in World War II. Obama’s speech will come at an interesting time because, during his campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump has suggested that both Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons in order to confront the threat that North Korea’s weapons poses to the two countries, which is in stark opposition to what Obama believes.

While there is no doubt that Obama’s visit to Hiroshima is a historical visit, this visit is also monumental and symbolic to the relationship that the United States and Japan has formed since World War II. Despite being enemies and the United States dropping a bomb on Japan, the two countries have been able to put their past behind them to form a good relationship with similar interests and goals.

Similarly, it is symbolic that Obama is giving his speech on nonnuclear proliferation in Hiroshima because it gives his speech so much more historical relevance. It is also important that in his speech Obama does not dwell on the past, but rather highlights what the future holds for the two allies. Obama’s speech and visit to Hiroshima can set a good example for the entire international community about being able to put the past behind and move forward as allied states.