“The United States will upgrade the US Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters on Sunday after the so-called “2+2” talks between the defence and foreign ministers from the two countries in Tokyo. “This will be the most significant change to US Forces Japan since its creation and one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years.”
The US has about 54,000 military personnel in Japan who currently report back to the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii (INDOPACOM), some 6,500km (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind. The move will give the US Forces Japan greater capability while still reporting to INDOPACOM.
