On January 30, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen held an introductory call to discuss the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Minister Nakatani congratulated the Secretary on his appointment and reaffirmed his desire to work together to advance Alliance priorities. The two officials reiterated the importance of deepening defense cooperation to strengthen deterrence and to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to advance ongoing work to modernize Alliance command and control and expand bilateral presence in Japan's Southwest Islands. Both the Secretary and the Minister agreed to remain in close contact on areas of mutual security interest.
