U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday unveiled a new American military command in Japan, marking a major move to strengthen the alliance and push back against growing threats from communist China. Speaking during his visit to Tokyo, Hegseth called Japan a vital partner in deterring aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
“Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth said, using the moment to underscore the importance of close U.S.-Japan coordination as tensions escalate near Taiwan and in the East China Sea.
The newly announced command structure will place a combined U.S. operational commander in Japan. That commander will coordinate directly with Japan’s recently established Joint Operations Command, enhancing the ability of both countries to respond rapidly in a potential conflict.
Hegseth referred to the structure as a “war-fighting headquarters” and said the alliance must be ready to counter Chinese provocations. He stated that deterrence only works when both sides are prepared and united, citing Japan’s geographic location and expanding defense role as critical to the region.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani agreed that cooperation is essential and confirmed plans for joint development of advanced AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. The two sides are also considering co-producing SM-6 surface-to-air missiles to counter regional threats and supply shortages.
The announcement comes at a time when Japan has already doubled its military spending and expanded its capabilities, including acquiring longer-range missiles. Hegseth’s praise of Japan as “indispensable” signals a clear commitment from the Trump administration, especially after earlier speculation about possible cutbacks in U.S. presence.
Hegseth also visited Iwo Jima to mark the 80th anniversary of one of World War II’s fiercest battles, where he highlighted how far the alliance has come since those days. Japan currently hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and supports a forward-deployed carrier strike group.
