US, Japan strengthen military ties with enhanced command structure

Japan has recently embarked on a significant reorientation of its military and diplomatic strategies, moving away from its traditionally restrained posture.

In 2013, following years of political upheaval, Japan's then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a return to global prominence, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

"Japan is back," Abe proclaimed during a Washington think tank speech.

Over the past decade, Japan has been steadily fulfilling that promise. The country is set to double its defense spending by 2027, invest in missiles capable of reaching enemy territory, and grant greater operational freedom to its previously constrained Self Defense Forces.

This commitment is further solidified by the recent US announcement of a major restructuring in Japan. The US will elevate its command in Japan to a three-star position, transitioning from a supervisory role to one capable of planning significant joint operations with the Japanese military.

US Secretaries of State and Defense visited Tokyo for key meetings with their Japanese counterparts. They unveiled new initiatives to jointly develop and repair weapons, enhance secure intelligence sharing, and bolster their military presence in Japan’s southwestern islands near Taiwan.

Equally significant was a historic development earlier that day: for the first time in 15 years, South Korea’s Defense Minister traveled to Tokyo to engage in trilateral talks with Japanese and US defense officials. This summit marked the first time the trilateral meeting occurred in either Japan or South Korea, reflecting a thaw in relations that had been strained by disputes over Japan’s colonial past.

“We’re cooperating in ways that seemed unthinkable a decade ago, even just five years ago,” a senior U.S. defense official remarked before the trip.

Despite Japan’s swift shift toward a more assertive military stance, challenges remain. The Self Defense Forces are still constrained by Japan’s pacifist constitution, limiting their operational scope compared to other nations' militaries. Additionally, while relations with South Korea have improved, this progress may be fragile, contingent on the political stability of current leaders.

“It all comes down to sustainability,” noted Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, a Japanese defense expert at the Atlantic Council.