U.S. war chief flexes power in Tokyo
The United States military completed the first stage of transforming its Japanese command structure into a joint force headquarters and will begin the second phase soon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday in Tokyo. He met with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the ministry headquarters after addressing thousands of American troops at Yokosuka Naval Base.
Washington and Tokyo are strengthening their defense partnership as China expands its naval operations near Japanese waters and fortifies military capabilities across the region. Hegseth pointed to Beijing’s military growth and aggressive actions as reasons for the command upgrade, which shifts U.S. Forces Japan from a coordination role to full operational command authority.
Japan has increased defense spending and deployed missile systems on southwestern islands that could become conflict zones if China moves against Taiwan. The restructuring began under the previous administration in 2024 and represents a major change in how the alliance operates militarily.
About 55,000 American troops are stationed in Japan alongside the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. The transformation aims to improve joint operations ranging from disaster response to armed conflict, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, the U.S. Forces Japan commander.
