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Tokyo and Washington are working toward confirming the reorganization of U.S. Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters, and their defense chiefs are set to agree to start transitional work at a meeting on Sunday, according to Japanese government sources.
With an eye on China, which has been stepping up its hegemonic acts, Japan and the United States are looking to strengthen cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces stationed in Japan.
During the meeting at the Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are also expected to agree on opposing Beijing’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.
As part of the reorganization of U.S. Forces Japan, a proposal has been floated to establish a team within the U.S. forces in Japan that will liaise with the SDF.
On Monday, the SDF’s Joint Operations Command was launched. If the joint force headquarters is set up, the command will serve as its Japanese counterpart. The command is expected to share operational information with U.S. forces.
On March 19, U.S. media reported that the Pentagon was considering canceling the plan to strengthen cooperation between U.S. forces in Japan and the SDF as part of cost-cutting measures. However, Nakatani has said that there will be no change in Japan’s policy of reinforcing cooperation with the United States. During the meeting with Hegseth, he plans to stress that Japan will proceed with the reorganization plan as scheduled.
At the meeting, the two sides are also expected to confirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the need to increase Japan’s and the United States’ presence on the Nansei Islands. Nakatani and Hegseth are also expected to agree to work steadily toward relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa Prefecture to the U.S. territory of Guam, and on relocating the U.S. Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the Henoko district of Nago, also in the prefecture.
With President Donald Trump demanding U.S. allies increase their defense spending, Nakatani plans to explain Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities and seek the United States’ understanding.
