New strategic combat base to boost US‑Japan military ties
The United States plans to establish a new "war-fighting base" in Japan to bolster its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
What do you need to know?
- New "war-fighting base" in Japan: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced plans on Sunday for a new military initiative in Japan. Along with creating this new combat structure, there will be a reorganization of American forces stationed in the country.
- Strengthening the USA-Japan alliance: These actions aim to enhance the USA's ability to cooperate with Japanese self-defense forces and to improve security in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Response to Trump's statements: Statements by US President Donald Trump concerning the alliance with Japan, as well as his calls for NATO countries to increase defense spending, have raised concerns in Tokyo. Hegseth reassured that there were no discussions about increasing Japan's defense spending.
What are the goals of the new combat base?
During his visit to Japan, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced plans to establish a new "war-fighting base." Strengthening the military presence is the first stage of the reorganization of American forces in Japan, originally announced during Joe Biden's administration.
Hegseth emphasized the importance of improving the USA's ability to coordinate operations with Japanese self-defense forces. He added that the US-Japanese military alliance is crucial for maintaining peace and security in the region.
Will Japan increase its defense spending?
In light of recent comments by Donald Trump that have questioned the durability of US alliances, concerns have arisen that Hegseth might pressure Japan to increase its defense spending. However, both Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani assured, after discussions, that this issue was not addressed.
The American military personnel in Japan currently numbers about 55,000, stationed in air and naval bases. The new "war-fighting base" is another step in strengthening this strategic partnership. Hegseth noted that the goal is to fortify the alliance to deter potential aggressive actions from China.
