An interim report for U.S. base relocation in Japan, prepared by the Japanese and U.S. governments last October, has met stiff opposition in various parts of the country affected by the relocation plans. As things stand now, prospects for a final agreement look uncertain at best.
The United States is moving toward global troop redeployment in order to deal with changes in the security environment following the end of the Cold War and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. The U.S. strategy of "military transformation" has two aims: maintaining the deterrent power of U.S. forces and reducing financial and other burdens on nations where American troops are stationed.
These two aims, however, are not necessarily compatible. The U.S. military probably wants to improve, not just maintain, its deterrent force, yet troop relocations will likely impose heavier burdens on host nations. The same thing can be said of the relocation plans presented in the interim report. It is likely that Japan will shoulder most, if not all, of the relocation costs.