US Defense Secretary to Hold Historic Trilateral Meeting in Tokyo

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to convene a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo, marking the first such gathering in 15 years. This meeting follows a significant summit held by President Joe Biden with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David in August 2023, where it was agreed to establish annual recurring summits among top officials from the three nations. A senior US defense official highlighted the progress made since the Camp David summit, particularly in areas such as real-time missile data sharing and trilateral military exercises. The upcoming meeting is expected to further solidify these advancements and enhance cooperation among the three nations in response to regional security challenges. During the meeting, Secretary Austin is anticipated to announce plans to reconstitute US Forces Japan (USF-J) into a joint force headquarters, which will align with Japan’s Joint Operations Command (J-JOC). This restructuring aims to strengthen military ties without integrating Japanese forces into US command structures, maintaining a clear distinction between the two. The official described this transition as a historic development, emphasizing that it represents one of the most significant improvements in military collaboration in 70 years. Once implemented, USF-J will play a crucial role in planning and leading US forces alongside Japanese forces, enhancing operational readiness in both peacetime and potential crises.