U.S. Forces Japan stationing expenses start full-scale negotiations Consensus on further strengthening the Japan-US alliance

The US and Japanese governments have held formal negotiations in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States, regarding the burden of expenses (compassionate budget) for US forces stationed in Japan from next year onward. Japan and the United States announced on the 11th that it was held on the 9th and 10th local time. In light of the situation in which former Vice President Joe Biden secured a victory in the US presidential election, talks began in earnest. The Japanese side will hold discussions to temporarily extend the current agreement, which expires at the end of this year, for one year.

　Mr. Yutaka Arima, Counselor of the North American Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Taro Yamato, Deputy Director of the Defense Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, visited the United States and met with former US Minister Dana Welton, the former Minister of State to Japan, and executives of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense. After confirming that the cost of stationing in Japan plays an important role in the activities of the US military in Japan, they agreed to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance.

　In October, a preparatory meeting was held by video conferencing for the new coronavirus, and this was the first face-to-face negotiation.

Source: https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/201111/plt2011110005-n1.html