Why is this important?
The reinforcement of troops is to be the first phase of the reorganization of American forces in Japan, announced inactive during the administration of Joe Biden. As Hegseth said at the end of his visit to Japan, this is intended to improve the U.S.'s ability to coordinate operations with nipponese self-defense forces and "is going to sow uncertainty in enemies" by creating strategical dilemmas in the region. The head of the U.S. Defence Ministry stressed that the American-Japanese military alliance remains the cornerstone of peace and safety in the Asia-Pacific region. In Japan, U.S. military personnel with a full of about 55,000 are stationed at air and sea bases.
What did the Pentagon chief say?
President Donald Trump said it very clearly: we will put America first. But that doesn't mean we'll be alone. American soldiers stand side by side with nipponese friends all day Self-defense forces – he noted.
He besides stressed that it was the task of the Ministry of Defence of both countries to build specified a strong alliance that its real and perceived deterrent power would be so large that "communist China would not take aggressive action".
According to the FT, Trump's fresh statements put the US's long-standing alliances in question, which echoed besides in Asia. In March Trump described the U.S.-Japanese safety Agreement as a "interesting agreement (...) according to which we are to defend Japan but they do not gotta defend us".
This raised concerns from the nipponese authorities that Hegseth would usage his visit to the country to request the government in Tokyo to increase its defence spending, and to this end he would usage as a means of force to introduce duties on imports of cars from Japan. However, both Hegseth and Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani said after discussions that they did not discuss Japan's defence spending.
Read more:
