WASHINGTON – The United States wants to bolster the strength of its alliance with Japan in “every way possible,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday.
As Hegseth began his talks with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Pentagon near Washington, the secretary also welcomed Tokyo’s resolve to increase its defense spending.
The defense chiefs met to discuss ways to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the bilateral alliance amid some concerns in Asia that Washington’s focus is drifting from the region.
Hegseth welcomed Koizumi in an honor cordon ceremony before their meeting.
Hours earlier, Koizumi and Hegseth exercised together in a morning physical training session with U.S. soldiers, seeking to demonstrate their close personal relationship and the strength of the two countries’ decades-old alliance.
Japanese officials said Koizumi is hoping to hear from Hegseth that the United States remains committed to peace and stability in Asia, even as President Donald Trump’s administration has designated the Western Hemisphere a top priority.
While Trump has downplayed Chinese military activities around Taiwan, his administration is seeking to strengthen its position in North and South America and the surrounding waters, as evidenced by its recent intervention in Venezuela and pressure on Greenland.
In some Asian capitals, Trump’s increased focus on the Western Hemisphere has prompted concerns about a potential decline in U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific, creating a security vacuum in the region as China accelerates its military buildup.
In addition to discussing major issues concerning the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere, Koizumi is expected to brief Hegseth on Japan’s plan to revise its three key security documents this year and beef up its defense capabilities.