Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to upgrade the U.S. military command in Japan to a new "war-fighting headquarters," marking a major shift in America's strategic presence in Asia. The announcement came during Hegseth's first diplomatic visit to Japan, where he met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo.
The restructuring will transform the current U.S. Forces Japan into a unified operational command, designed to work closely with Japan's newly established Joint Operations Command (JJOC). This move aims to enhance the coordination and response capabilities between both nations' military forces.
"Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression," Hegseth declared during the talks. The Defense Secretary emphasized that the U.S. is moving swiftly to reestablish deterrence both in the region and globally.
The bilateral discussions yielded agreements to accelerate joint development of military technologies, including Advanced Medium-Range Air to Air Missiles (MRAAM) and potential production of SM-6 surface-to-air missiles. Both nations also committed to streamlining maintenance procedures for U.S. military assets in Japan.
The enhanced military cooperation comes amid growing concerns over China's assertive actions in the region and potential tensions over Taiwan. Hegseth stressed the importance of maintaining "sustaining, robust, ready and credible deterrence" across the Indo-Pacific, noting that Japan would be at the forefront of any potential conflict in the western Pacific.
Japanese defense officials indicated that the command restructuring is not expected to result in substantial changes to their responsibilities or require additional U.S. troops beyond the current 50,000 stationed in Japan.
The meeting also addressed strengthening defense positions in Japan's Southwestern islands, which occupy strategic locations near disputed areas in the East China Sea and Taiwan. This positioning is seen as critical for deterring potential Chinese military actions in the region.
During his Asia tour, which included a stop in the Philippines, Hegseth has consistently emphasized the U.S. commitment to regional allies facing maritime disputes with Beijing.