March 30, 2025
Ministry of Defense
Defense Minister Nakatani met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth on March 30. The outline is as follows.
1 Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting
Defense Minister Nakatani and Secretary Hegseth affirmed the strength of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and underscored the importance of further strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in light of the increasingly severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. These efforts include upgrading respective command and control frameworks, with Japan standing up the JSDF Joint Operations Command, expansion of bilateral presence in the southwestern region of Japan, increased defense equipment and technology cooperation, as well as continued multilateral cooperation.
2 Japan-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Luncheon Meeting
The Ministers held a frank discussion about the security environment surrounding the Alliance in a relaxed atmosphere. Defense Minister Nakatani expressed his sincere desire to work closely with Secretary Hegseth, who he views as a deeply reliable partner, to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance, thereby ensuring that both nations remain fully prepared to address any challenges that may arise now or in the future.
