US, Japanese Defense Chiefs Vow to Strength Alliance; USFJ Changes Proceed

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Jan. 15 as the two nations look to further solidify their ties in the face of growing Chinese and North Korean threats.

“Our job and our goal here is to continue that, to strengthen that in every way possible,” Hegseth said at Pentagon. “It’s going to be hard-nosed realism, practical, common-sense approach that puts both of our vital national interests together and keeps the peace.” One of the central efforts to deepen those ties is the transformation of U.S. Forces Japan into a joint forces headquarters that can coordinate military operations with the Japanese, plan joint exercises, and help defend the country if hostilities break out.

Japanese officials, eager to bolster the partnership under the Tru