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US, Japan to establish joint operations command

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Jul 2024 18:46
4 Min Read

The United States and Japan announce the establishment of a new defense agreement aimed at bolstering their military cooperation.

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  • US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara hold talks at Japan's defense ministry in Tokyo, July 28, 2024 (AP)
    US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara hold talks at Japan's Defense Ministry in Tokyo, July 28, 2024 (AP)

The United States and Japan established a Joint Operations Command (JJOC) to bolster military collaboration between the two nations, the Washington-Tokyo Security Consultative Committee said in a joint statement, which was released by the US Department of Defense on Sunday.

The initiative was agreed upon by key officials from both countries, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.

"The United States welcomed Japan's reinforcement of its defense capabilities, including the sustained increase in its defense budget, the creation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Joint Operations Command (JJOC), the focus on cybersecurity, and the possession of counterstrike capabilities," the statement read.

According to the statement, Washington and Tokyo plan to enhance their military cooperation by aligning decision-making processes and coordinating military plans and exercises.

The agreement will include greater interoperability on joint bilateral operations such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, training and exercises, operational planning, contingency planning, and logistics.

The newly established JJOC aims to enhance readiness to address emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen deterrence capabilities, the two parties underlined.

US planning to upgrade command structure in Japan

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The US currently has about 54,000 military personnel in Japan who report to the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, which is approximately 6,500 kilometers away and 19 hours behind.

This new command will align with Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, enhancing the agility of both militaries in the event of a crisis involving Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

The discussions between Japan and the US were also set to explore the development of Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment, which includes using military capabilities, such as nuclear weapons, to defend Japan.

According to Naoko Aoki, a political scientist at the RAND Corporation, Japan has been unsettled by China's military modernization, DPRK's nuclear and missile activities, and nuclear threats observed during the Ukraine war.

Speaking with AFP, Aoki stated, "[It] is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan." 

On Monday, Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will meet with their Indian and Australian counterparts, S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, as part of the Quad alliance, which is viewed as a counterbalance to "China's influence".

Nuclear weapons included in methods US will vow to use to defend Japan

This comes after a bilateral meeting between both nations decided to draft their first joint document on expanded deterrence policy, which will include a clause affirming the United States' commitment to defend Japan by various means, including nuclear weapons, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported, citing sources.

The document, as per the newspaper, will outline both nations' positions on implementing deterrence policy and will specify the US determination to enhance regional deterrence for Japan, detailing the measures Washington can employ in both peacetime and potential emergencies.
 
The document will also detail the scenarios under which the United States can retaliate against third countries on behalf of Japan and outline potential responses, according to the newspaper.

In 2010, the Japanese and US governments created the Extended Deterrence Dialogue to explore methods for maintaining and enhancing extended deterrence. They began to hold regular consultations on this matter, involving officials responsible for foreign policy and defense affairs.

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