Japan, US defense chiefs agree to advance security cooperation

Tokyo, Sept. 19 (Jiji Press)--In a phone conversation on Friday night, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed their nations' dedication to enhancing a broad spectrum of security cooperation efforts. The purpose of this 10-minute call was to further bolster the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Koizumi's reappointment in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet reshuffle on Thursday preceded the conversation. This was the eighth round of discussions between the two defense chiefs, encompassing both virtual and face-to-face meetings. The latest talks saw Koizumi and Hegseth agreeing to convene in person at an unspecified future date.

Koizumi expressed his desire to further strengthen the bilateral alliance through deeper cooperation with Hegseth. He also stated his intention to diligently work on revising Japan's three primary national security-related documents. Hegseth congratulated Koizumi on his reappointment and conveyed his earnest hope for closer collaboration between the two defense chiefs.