U.S. President George W. Bush indicated Monday that the United States accepts a deal struck last week between the Japanese government and local authorities for relocating an air base in Okinawa.
"I've worked very closely (with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi) on a variety of matters, starting with making sure our force posture is such that the Japanese are comfortable with. I don't know if you saw the recent announcements about Okinawa, for example," Bush said at a forum hosted by the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.
Bush did not explicitly mention the deal, which changes a construction plan the two nations agreed to last October for implementing the 10-year-old accord to relocate Futenma air base within Okinawa Prefecture.
But Bush said, "You're beginning to see a defense relationship and alliance that stays intact but is more attuned to the future."