US, Japan Strengthen Military Ties with New Command Center
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken is visiting Japan with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to discuss upgrading military cooperation between the two countries. The US already has over 50,000 soldiers stationed in Japan.
US and Japan’s top defense officials and diplomats have announced plans to strengthen their military cooperation following a meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, amid bullish moves by China in the region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were taking part in the two “2+2” security talks with their Japanese counterparts Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara.
“Great to be in Japan for the 2024 US-Japan 2+2 meeting. Our alliance with Japan is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific — and it is stronger than ever,” Austin posted on X on his arrival in Japan.
Austin said the officials planned to discuss “historic efforts to modernize” US and Japanese command and control structures, including for US forces in Japan.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the US and Japan were in a “critical phase.”
“We are at a turning point in history as the rules-based, free and open international order is shaken to the core,” Kamikawa said.
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