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President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are set to strengthen military cooperation between the United States and Japan.

In a significant development, the leaders will discuss a major overhaul of the US military command structure in East Asia during their meeting next month. This initiative aims to appoint a four-star US commander to align with a proposed Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) headquarters responsible for overseeing Japan’s military operations.

Summit Meeting With Quad Leaders, In Tokyo

At a recent press briefing, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi highlighted the ongoing talks to establish a joint command framework aimed at bolstering cooperation with the United States and South Korea. Although the summit’s agenda between Biden and Kishida remains under wraps, the intention to establish a joint command headquarters by March 2025 due to concerns over China’s escalating military presence.

Currently, the US military’s structure in Japan differs notably from its arrangement in South Korea. In Japan, US forces operate under a three-star commander with no authority over Japanese troops, differing from the unified command system in South Korea. Elevating the US commander to a four-star rank would align with the Japanese military’s leadership, paving the way for potentially more integrated US-Japan defense operations.

While some US officials suggest limiting the new commander’s role to overseeing joint exercises, training, and information sharing, the proposal will undoubtedly step towards a deeper military collaboration between both nations.

Digging Deeper:
Japan’s strategic importance to US military operations in Asia is significant, hosting a substantial number of American troops and serving as a key base for projecting military power in the region.

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