Defense & Security

Washington demands Tokyo pay more for U.S. troops in Japan

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
An aerial view of the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 18, 2021

The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has demanded an increase in Japan’s share of the cost of stationing U.S. forces in Japan, sources said.

The Japanese government is cautious about a large increase in what is dubbed the “compassionate budget.”

Bilateral negotiations are expected to soon be in full swing. Japan is preparing its domestic budget proposal next month for fiscal 2022, which starts in April.

Both countries are negotiating the compassionate budget for fiscal 2022 and beyond. Japan is said to be proposing to increase the budget in areas that contribute to Japan’s security, such as improving the training environment for U.S. forces in Japan.