Japan and the United States are planning to hold talks in Tokyo in July involving their foreign and defense chiefs, after rescheduling the two-plus-two security meeting originally set for May. This would mark the first such meeting since January 2023, when officials from both countries met in Washington.
One of the key agenda items for the upcoming talks is the review of the U.S.-Japan alliance’s command and control operations, especially in light of China’s increasing military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Joe Biden had agreed to address this issue during a summit in Washington last month.
Japan aims to establish a joint command headquarters for its defense forces by March 2025 to enhance alliance interoperability, while the U.S. forces are planning to bolster their command functions in Japan alongside the new SDF headquarters. These efforts are intended to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities in areas like cyberspace and outer space.
Overall, the two countries are taking steps to enhance their security cooperation and address regional challenges, underscoring the importance of their enduring partnership.
© KYODO