U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the deepening U.S.-Japan alliance Sunday while unveiling a revamped command structure designed to respond swiftly to Chinese military aggression. In Tokyo, Hegseth described Japan as essential to regional stability and critical to the success of U.S. defense efforts in Asia.
“Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth declared during talks with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, stressing that the Indo-Pacific faces increasingly aggressive behavior from Beijing.
Under the newly unveiled plan, the U.S. will assign a unified operational commander to Japan who will directly coordinate with the Japan Joint Operations Command. This coordination center, launched by Japan last week, will oversee the country’s air, ground and naval forces.
Hegseth described the U.S. command as a “war-fighting headquarters” — not merely a support post — and made it clear that both nations must be ready for conflict if diplomacy fails. His use of the word “indispensable” was meant to reassure Japan of its strategic importance amid concerns about America’s long-term commitment to the region.
The two allies also agreed to jointly develop AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and explore the joint production of SM-6 defense systems. Nakatani said the cooperation reflects Japan’s growing commitment to modernizing its military capabilities.
Trump-era policies like “America First” had raised questions in Japan about the durability of the alliance, but Hegseth’s remarks appeared to put those fears to rest. Japanese officials, speaking anonymously, said they were pleased to see the Trump administration fully backing the joint military structure.
Hegseth’s visit included a stop at Iwo Jima to attend a memorial honoring the 80th anniversary of the iconic World War II battle. The event served as a reminder of the transformation from former enemies to close allies.
