(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to inform you about the visit to Japan by the U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth. From the first half of this week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth is scheduled to visit Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. We will hold the Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting on March 30.
Secretary Hegseth and I held a telephone conference at the end of this January, shortly after his assumption of office. The Secretary and I share the common experience and background as Infantry Platoon Leaders, and we were able to have discussions in a very positive atmosphere. At that time, we agreed to hold a meeting in person as soon as possible. I believe it is very significant for Japan’s defense, and towards the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” that Secretary Hegseth is visiting countries in the Indo-Pacific region shortly after assuming the office and that Japan has been chosen as one of his destinations. I sincerely welcome Secretary Hogsten’s first visit to Japan since his assumption of office and look forward to directly discussing with him concrete efforts to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance. In addition, I am aware that Secretary Hegseth will visit Iwo-To and participate in the Reunion of Honor Ceremony on Iwo-To. I would also like to attend the ceremony if circumstances permit, but arrangements are still being coordinated at this time. If I could attend the ceremony, it would be the first time that the defense ministers of Japan and the U.S. meet in Iwo-To. I believe this could become a great symbolic occasion on the milestone of the 80 years since the end of World War II, and I think the meeting and memorial ceremony on Iwo-To will be greatly significant.