Japan and the United States on Oct. 29 issued an interim report agreeing to expand military cooperation in connection with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. The agreement is intended to adapt the bilateral alliance to better deal with changes in the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.
The two countries in February established the Common Strategic Initiatives. To pursue the initiatives, the latest agreement calls for reviewing the Self-Defense Forces' roles, missions and capabilities and realigning the two nations' forces to enhance security cooperation.
The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan is part of the U.S. military restructuring in the world. Rather than merely relocating U.S. troops and bases, the program seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of the bilateral security alliance by promoting greater military integration between U.S. forces and the SDF.