IRIA News

The United States has pledged comprehensive military support to Japan and South Korea. This commitment was formalized in an agreement signed on July 28, 2024, during talks in Tokyo, marking a crucial step in cementing security cooperation among the three nations ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.

The agreement, which involves regular military training exercises, aims to address shared concerns about North Korea’s missile program and China’s military expansion.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the unprecedented nature of the trilateral security partnership, highlighting plans for enhanced senior-level security talks and real-time data sharing on North Korean missile launches.

Austin, alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, discussed the need for robust deterrence against Chinese coercive behavior and potential military collaboration between Russia and North Korea.

“We are at a critical juncture and our decisions today will determine our future,” stated Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, underscoring the significance of the agreement. The ministers collectively expressed their concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, China’s nuclear build-up, and Russia’s undermining of arms control, especially through its military cooperation with North Korea.

Another historic moment for the 🇺🇸🇯🇵🇰🇷 partnership. With the first visit to Japan by a 🇰🇷 defense minister in 15 years, today’s first-ever trilateral defense ministers’ meeting in Tokyo demonstrates how far this extraordinary partnership has come in less than a year. Deeper… pic.twitter.com/UePKs186kl

— ラーム・エマニュエル駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) July 28, 2024

Regional tensions

Concerns over North Korea’s missiles and China’s military expansion have pushed Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. closer together. The defense chiefs’ meeting in Tokyo follows a major summit hosted by President Joe Biden at Camp David about a year ago. With the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House, the three nations are working to bind the trilateral relationship so tightly that it would be hard to unravel.

“We are at a critical juncture and our decisions today will determine our future,” Kamikawa said. The meeting’s outcome is seen as a robust response to the evolving security dynamics in the region, particularly with the increasing military cooperation between China and Russia and the ongoing threats posed by North Korea.

U.S.-Japan ‘2+2’ talks and strategic initiatives

The U.S. and Japan also held separate ministerial-level discussions aimed at elevating their military alliance, focusing on integrating Japan’s Self-Defense Forces with U.S. military operations to improve command and control structures.

The two sides agreed on several initiatives including the overhaul of U.S. military forces in Japan, aiming to create a joint force headquarters for better interoperability during both peacetime and contingencies. Austin described these changes as the most significant since the creation of U.S. Forces Japan, underscoring the upgrade’s historic impact on the alliance.

Some of the mutually agreed initiatives are as follows:

1. Upgrading Command, and Control (C2) The U.S. and Japan commit to strengthening their Alliance through improved coordination at all levels. Plans include reconstituting U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) as a joint force headquarters, enhancing interoperability, and aligning missions and capabilities with Japan’s Joint Staff Office Command (JJOC). Key efforts involve refining C2 frameworks, policy-level decision-making, operational planning, and cybersecurity measures.

2. Enhancing Stand-Off Defense Capabilities Both nations aim to advance Japan’s stand-off defense capabilities with U.S. support. This includes cooperation on Japan’s acquisition of Tomahawk missiles, JASSM-ER procurements, and development of indigenous missiles. These steps are designed to bolster Japan’s counterstrike capacity.

3. Strengthening Southwest Islands Defense The Alliance supports Japan’s initiatives to deploy additional units to its Southwest Islands. This region’s security is enhanced through joint exercises, increased military presence, and improved communication with local communities.

4. Bolstering Readiness and Operations To maintain readiness, the U.S. and Japan will expand realistic cross-domain training and exercises, such as Resolute Dragon and Orient Shield. Efforts include enhancing the operational effectiveness of defense assets, exploring new joint training opportunities, and integrating advanced technologies in fighter pilot training.

The United States and Japan face a complex security environment that demands an integrated approach.

Today’s ministerial-level meeting on extended deterrence was important for this very reason. pic.twitter.com/qMS9kBdwbg

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) July 28, 2024

5. Enhancing Extended Deterrence In response to strategic and nuclear threats, the U.S. and Japan emphasize strengthening extended deterrence. This includes enhancing Japan’s defense capabilities and conducting strategic-level discussions through the Extended Deterrence Dialogue.

6. Deepening ISR Cooperation Progress in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) cooperation is crucial for bilateral maritime domain awareness and timely information sharing. The Bilateral Information Analysis Cell (BIAC) and U.S. MQ-9 deployment to Kadena Air Base are key components.

7. Expanding Cross-Domain Operations The Alliance will strengthen coordination in cyber, space, and electromagnetic warfare. Initiatives include developing a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) detection system, enhancing space cooperation, and addressing information warfare threats.

8. Strengthening Cyber and Information Security Emphasizing cyber resilience, the Alliance aims to enhance critical infrastructure cybersecurity and incorporate Zero Trust Architecture. Japan’s implementation of the Risk Management Framework will support these efforts.

9. Collaborating with Global Partners The U.S. and Japan will deepen partnerships with allies like Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines to promote regional stability and security. This involves joint exercises, capacity building, and multilateral cooperation to uphold international law and regional unity.

U.S. Defense Chief Austin said that the bilateral agreement between Japan and the U.S. laid out “unprecedented steps for our trilateral security partnership.” He also highlighted the need to modernize the alliance command and control, calling it an “historic decision.” This modernization includes expanding missions and operational responsibilities, as well as reinforcing combined abilities to deter and respond to coercive behavior in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

In line with this commitment, the two countries have agreed to work together on developing counterstrike capabilities. This move is aimed at enhancing Japan’s defense posture, which has been shifting away from its post-World War II pacifist stance. Japan plans to boost defense spending to about 2% of its GDP by 2027 and acquire significant counterstrike capabilities.

Strengthening the Quad

As a follow-up to the defense discussions, Japan will host a meeting of foreign ministers from the Quad group, which includes Australia and India. This meeting is part of broader efforts to counter Beijing’s assertiveness in the region. The Quad is seen as a mechanism to enhance regional security and promote stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The ministers also condemned North Korea’s missile testing and nuclear weapons programs, as well as the deepening Russia-North Korea cooperation, including Russia’s procurement of ballistic missiles and other materials from North Korea for use in Ukraine.

The trilateral security cooperation aims to institutionalize regular consultations, information sharing, and joint military exercises, reflecting a significant shift in regional relations. This initiative seeks to ensure that the strategic partnership among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea remains robust regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara expressed confidence in the future of the Japan-U.S. alliance, stating, “I am convinced that the Japan-US alliance will become even more significant in the future as the international community enters a new era of crisis. Unilateral changes in the status quo and attempts to do so by force bring serious challenges to the free and open international order based on the rule of law.”

Overall, the agreement marks a historic step in reinforcing the trilateral security alliance, addressing regional threats, and ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The cooperation among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea is now at some of the strongest levels, reflecting a collective commitment to counter shared security challenges.