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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada have unveiled new plans to strengthen the United States’ presence in Japan with more “versatile, resilient and mobile” forces including a newly organised Marine Littoral Regiment, as well as a new memorandum of understanding for defence technology.
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Both nations agreed to strengthen the forward posture of the United States in Japan at a meeting between the two leaders in mid-January.
The enhanced posture aims to strengthen the alliance deterrence by revising the Japan-US Roadmap for Realignment Implementation agreed by the SCC in 2012.
Under the readjusted plans, the leaders confirmed that the 3rd Marine Division Headquarters and the 12th Marine Regiment will remain in Okinawa, with the 12th Marine Regiment reorganised into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the new regiment will be equipped with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as anti-ship and transportation capabilities.
During the meeting between the two leaders, Secretary Austin “underscored” the United States’ continued support to Japanese defence, including maintaining Japan’s sovereignty with the US nuclear umbrella.
Despite the reorganisation of the Marine regiment, it is not expected that the new plan will impact the Okinawa Consolidation Plan’s land management details.
According to the Pentagon, Secretary Austin’s visit also included a new bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) projects, and a bilateral, non-binging Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) between the United States’ Department of Defense and the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
The RDT&E MoU is a legally binding agreement to enhance defence capabilities, delivering new technology across high-power microwaves, autonomous systems and counter-hypersonics.
The technological improvements are underpinned by the SOSA, in which both nations “agree to exchange reciprocal priority support for goods and services”, enhancing both nation’s industrial capability to achieve defence objectives.
“Today, I am delighted for Minister Hamada and I to sign two defence-enabling arrangements to increase our opportunities for expanded and deepened cooperation on advanced technologies and defence supply chains,” said Secretary Austin.
“To support US forces and enhance alliance cooperation towards these ends, the United States and Japan must focus our efforts to collaborate on sharpening the competitive edge of the alliance to meet future force requirements and sustained logistics. This is a consequential moment for Japan and the US–Japan alliance as we embark on new forms of cooperation together.”
Both nations also agreed to strengthening their regional relationships, including with ASEAN and the Republic of Korea.
