US intervened to contain Asia currency risks, Bessent says

InterviewTreasury chief cites lessons from 1990s crisis as Washington joined yen-buying operationU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to Nikkei in August 2025. This year's interview, conducted Aug. 4, was Nikkei's second opportunity to speak to him exclusively. (Photo by Kosuke Takami)TAKESHI KAWANAMIAugust 5, 2026 08:04 JSTWASHINGTON -- The U.S. joined in a coordinated currency intervention with Japan to prevent yen weakness from spreading instability across Asian currencies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Nikkei on Tuesday in an exclusive interview where he cited the lessons from the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s.