The U.S.-Japan alliance has never been stronger, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who met today with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo.
“We share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and I’m proud of how much we’ve accomplished over the past four years,” Austin said.
Those accomplishments, he said, include improvements to force posture, defense industrial agreements and upgrades to command and control.
“We’ve worked more closely than ever with our partners across this in support of stability, deterrence and peace,” the secretary said.
Japan and the U.S. have made historic progress with Australia, the Philippines, South Korea and other partners. “We’re committed to building on that progress,” he said.
“We’re clear-eyed about the challenges to peace and stability in this region and worldwide, and that includes coercive behavior by [China] in the East China Sea and South China Sea and elsewhere in the region,” he said, adding that other threats are from Russia and North Korea.
“We’re meeting these challenges with confidence and resolve and we remain committed to advancing our historic trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea,” he said.
“Let me be clear, America’s extended deterrence commitment to Japan and the Republic of Korea is ironclad,” he said.
Austin also met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba today and they said they share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Earlier in the day, Austin arrived at Yokohama North Dock for a classified briefing with U.S. Army officials about the Army’s initiatives in Japan, as well as engagements with soldiers from U.S. Army Japan and the Army’s 5th Composite Watercraft Company.
“The 5th Composite Watercraft Company was activated in February — making good on another important announcement following the 2023 U.S.-Japan 2+2 meeting. This is also the first time that an Army composite watercraft company has been deployed outside the United States,” said a senior defense official.
Also earlier in the day, Austin visited Yokota Air Base, where he met with Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen F. Jost, the new commander of U.S. Forces Japan.
Jost provided the secretary with updates on a wide range of defense activities across the alliance, as well as ongoing efforts to upgrade U.S. Forces Japan to a Joint Force Headquarters, according to a senior defense official.
The United States is helping to upgrade alliance command and control by continuing to refine requirements to reconstitute U.S. Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters, the official said.
These requirements include upgrades to personnel, resourcing and facilities to enable expanded missions and responsibilities. “We are in a good position to implement these requirements in the months ahead, ensuring that the JFHQ is in a strong position to operate effectively with Japan and that the alliance can respond in peacetime and contingencies,” the official said.
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