Japan Plans to Invest in Reinforcing U.S. Military Facilities in Japan to Showcase Its Efforts to Trump

The Japanese government plans to strengthen the protection of U.S. military facilities in Japan at Japan’s own expense, aiming to demonstrate its commitment and efforts to President Donald Trump.

According to Kyodo News on April 27, negotiations over the cost-sharing for U.S. military presence in Japan could begin in full force this summer. The Japanese government has started examining its financial responsibilities and is proposing a plan under which Japan would bear the costs to enhance the defensive capabilities of U.S. facilities. This initiative aims to improve the resilience of U.S. bases in Japan during emergencies, minimize potential damage, maintain operational functionality, and thereby strengthen deterrence and response capabilities within the alliance.

The report also revealed that, given President Trump's demand for allied nations to make greater financial contributions, this move is intended to signal Japan’s proactive efforts—despite the possibility of increased financial burdens for Japan.

Kyodo News stated that the content of the Japan-U.S. negotiations will cover the five-year period starting from fiscal year 2027. Negotiators on both sides will come from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, as well as the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense. Talks are expected to kick off in summer and reach an agreement by the end of the year.

Regarding funding for enhanced resistance to attacks, Japan is considering options based on the "Status of Forces Agreement" (SOFA) to expand the "Facility Improvement Fund." This fund has traditionally been used for barracks, family housing, and new projects included in special agreements signed every five years. Proposed measures include undergrounding bases to protect against explosive devices and electromagnetic attacks, reinforcing building structures, and dispersing deployments—details of which will be finalized through consultations with the United States.

According to Japanese government sources, the U.S. side has quietly conveyed to Japan the necessity of strengthening defenses for U.S. military facilities, indicating expectations of increased financial burden. One official said: "How much more than the current average annual burden of 200 billion yen? The negotiations may reach a critical stage this autumn."

The peak spending period for U.S. military presence costs in Japan was between 1996 and 2000, totaling 1.3521 trillion yen over five years. The current allocation for fiscal years 2022–2026 totals approximately 1.0551 trillion yen, or about 21.1 billion yen per year—covering expenses such as procurement of advanced systems for joint training between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces, as well as construction of maintenance hangars and other infrastructure.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1863749383334915/

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