The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 28 July 2024 that, through a phased approach, it plans to convert US Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters that will report to the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command.
The news emerged from a two-plus-two ministerial meeting in Tokyo between US Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa and Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara.
“We welcome an historic decision to modernise our alliance command and control to better meet the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Austin during a press briefing on 28 July that followed the high-level meetings. “The United States will upgrade the US Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities.”
The new joint force headquarters will be commanded by a three-star officer and will serve as a counterpart to Japan’s own Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command, Austin said.
“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,” Austin added. “Japan’s new Joint Operations Command will further allow our forces to work together more closely than ever. And these new operational capabilities and responsibilities will advance our collective deterrence.”
Austin said the change is based on a desire to work more closely with Japan and enhance the effectiveness of the existing relationship.
Also part of the discussions, Austin said, were ways to increase bilateral presence in Japan’s Southwest Islands; a reaffirmation of the importance of co-operation on cyber security, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cross-domain operations and bilateral exercises and training; and ideas for new areas for defence-industrial co-operation.
Regarding the latter, according to a joint statement by the Security Consultative Committee, the meeting participants discussed co-production opportunities to expand production capacity of both Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles.
