The United States plans a significant overhaul of its military command structure in Japan, reflecting deepening defense ties with Tokyo amid rising regional threats from China and North Korea. A U.S. official confirmed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will discuss these changes with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara during high-level security talks in Tokyo on Sunday.
Central to the revamp is the reconstitution of U.S. Forces Japan into a Joint Force Headquarters, reporting to the commander of U.S. INDOPACOM, led by a three-star general contrary to Japan’s request for a four-star rank. This move aims to bolster coordination between ally forces as Tokyo establishes a new joint headquarters to oversee its military operations by March.
For the first time, U.S.-Japan ministerial talks will include “extended deterrence,” the U.S. commitment to use nuclear capabilities to defend allies. Japan, hosting 54,000 American troops and Washington’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group, is shifting from its postwar pacifism, having pledged in 2022 to double its defense spending to 2% of GDP.
Additionally, Austin and Kihara met South Korean counterpart Shin Won-sik, resulting in an agreement to “institutionalize” trilateral cooperation, including real-time sharing of North Korean missile data and joint military exercises. This comes as the Biden administration pushes for stronger Tokyo-Seoul ties, strained by historical grievances.
Washington is also looking to Japanese industry to alleviate pressure on U.S. defense companies affected by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Last month, discussions began under the U.S.-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, established by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden.
After Tokyo, Blinken and Austin will head to the Philippines for further security talks, aiming to counter China’s increasing assertiveness. Blinken’s recent meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi reiterated the commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
In summary, the U.S. and Japan are recalibrating their military alliance to enhance regional security following escalating threats, while also strengthening trilateral cooperation with South Korea and broadening defense industry collaboration.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/28/us-to-announce-military-command-revamp-in-japan-official-says.html
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