On July 29, State Minister of Defense Miyazaki received a courtesy call from Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Okinawa Area Coordinator of U.S. Forces, and congratulated him on his assumption of command. State Minister Miyazaki expressed his expectation that General Watson will build a strong relationship of trust with JSDF personnel and strengthen ties with local communities while enhancing the Japan–U.S. bilateral presence in Japan’s southwestern region and further strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Alliance.
