What Happened
Defense Chiefs Strengthen Alliance Amid Regional Tensions
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have agreed to further strengthen the capabilities of the US-Japan alliance in a telephone call. Koizumi expressed a strong sense of urgency in boosting Japan’s defense capabilities, with the country considering a new midterm defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP. The agreement comes as Japan revises its national security documents and negotiates host nation support for US forces stationed in the country. This development was reported by The Japan Times.