Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is on an official visit to the United States, marking a significant moment in reinforcing the strong alliance between the two nations. During his trip, PM Kishida is set to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and participate in the first trilateral leaders' summit with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..
The summit aims to reaffirm the alliance and partnership commitments among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. Key topics expected to be discussed include enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance, improving the command-and-control operations of Japan's Self-Defense Forces alongside U.S. troops stationed in Japan, and advancing trilateral cooperation to promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Currently, the United States maintains 88 dedicated military bases in Japan, in addition to several shared facilities with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Japan is also in the process of establishing a permanent joint command that will oversee the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces by the end of March next year. Concurrently, U.S. government officials are considering granting the command of U.S. forces in Japan greater authority to enhance interoperability and readiness.
The presence of U.S. military personnel and assets in Japan is a cornerstone of the bilateral defense strategy. Japan shares the costs of stationing U.S. forces through the U.S.-Japan Host Nation Support framework, with negotiations for a new multi-year agreement currently underway. Among the advanced military assets based in Japan are the USS Ronald Reagan and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, underscoring the strategic importance of the U.S. presence in the region.
This visit underscores the commitment of Japan and the United States to maintaining a robust and cooperative defense partnership, aiming to ensure stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
