The American-Japanese alliance is one of the alliances of the strongest treaties today, protecting the threats of China, North Korea and Russia. Nevertheless, this iron alliance is often questioned due to false ideas about the reciprocal defense between Tokyo and Washington. Combining two of the strongest economies, soldiers and mild powers in the world, the Japanese American alliance has room to grow, even in political turbulence. In the context of Trump, suggesting that each American ally should develop its defense apparatus, the potus expressed its criticism regarding Japan. Twice Trump said the American-Japanese alliance is “so unilateral”. In addition, the president said: “We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to defend them, but they don’t pay anything.” President Trump also told journalists if America was attacked, Japan would not come to the help of America. Overall, the president’s arguments ignore the historical contexts that could cause a flaw in one of the constant alliances in the world.
In the aftermath of the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan, the government of the United States described the constitution of Tokyo, which led to decades of pacifism. In the new Constitution written by the Americans, article 9 stipulates that the country cannot have a complete army, which is the reason why Tokyo calls their army the Japanese self -defense forces (JSDF). Despite its defensive operational nature, the JSDF is regularly ranked in the first 20 armies by firepower among all nations. In addition, the Japanese navy plays a crucial role in the first strategy of the island chain to contain Chinese naval movements in East Asia.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the United States organized permanent military bases in Japan to develop relations with Tokyo, improve its defense, promote democratic reforms and maintain a foot in the Indo-Pacific region. Although Washington pays billions to preserve and strengthen logistics its forces in the Pacific fleet, the government of Tokyo pays for the reception of American military bases. Before a renewal of the agreement in 2022, the Japanese Parliament awarded 201.7 billion yen for the American military bases. With the renewed agreement, there was an increase of 250 to 299 billion yen, which is equivalent to USD 2.6 billion. Tokyo also contributes to the JSDF-US joint training exercises, which take place throughout the Japanese archipelago.
Currently, American forces in Japan (USJF) welcome between 50,000 and 60,000 American soldiers in the country, plus 7,000 entrepreneurs – the highest of any foreign mission abroad. The aforementioned Japanese constitution of American manufacturing calls on Japan to provide full access to the base, that Tokyo supports. Nagashima Akihisa, special advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba, was recently interviewed about Tokyo monetary support for American bases. He also pointed out that if Japan paid even more for the American bases, this would amount to paying “mercenaries”. Akihisa has also said that in addition to the wages of American forces in Japan, the Japanese government pays public services of Japanese bases and citizens employed in American facilities.
The Japan self -defense forces, although under the protection of the American army, did not remain inactive to world events. Initially benefiting from the bureaucratic embrasure due to decades of pacification, the financial contributions of Japan arrived late during the Gulf War. However, Tokyo has widened the world scope of the JSDF. During the war led by the United States in Afghanistan, Japan organized the first international conference to help rebuild Afghanistan in Tokyo. The Japanese government was one of the main contributors to support the poor nation until the Taliban’s second takeover in 2021. During the United States War in Iraq, Japan sent 5,500 soldiers as part of the Japanese Iraq reconstruction and support group. Although Japan has not participated in serious combat operations like Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States, they played their role by helping to rebuild Iraqi and Kurdish infrastructures and local governance. In order to improve foreign operations, the JSDF established its only military base abroad in Djibouti in 2011. There, the JSDF helps to ensure safety and the overwatch for the commercial and energy sectors of Tokyo, because the Bab El-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea are a major economic life for Japanese maritime trade and global maritime trade.
Tokyo and his self-defense forces are essential for American interests in Indo-Pacific and provide a shield against imminent existential threats to the continental United States. In the midst of growing tensions at the Southern China Sea, the United States can count on the growing military relations of Japan with the Philippines to counter Chinese influence on the various islands. With the Strait of Luzon, a lifeline for the Japanese economy, threatened by Chinese naval expansion, the JSDF advances naval capacity in Southeast Asia – especially that American forces are overloaded.
In the Korean peninsula, the aggression of the Kim regime in North Korea continues to put America and South Korea in a precarious position. Japan also considers North Korea as an existential threat because their nuclear weapons are not only pointed at Japan, but missiles continue to land around the Tokyo maritime space. Thanks to American mediation, Japan slowly repairs relations with South Korea, where the two countries now share early warning communications on North Korean missile launches. Regarding the Taiwan Strait and an invasion or a potential Chinese amphibious blockade, Tokyo considers the defense of the Democratic Taipei and the island as an existential to Japanese security. The JSDF will almost certainly defend Taiwan militarily alongside the United States, the growing military capacities of China being the main factor of Japanese relimitarization.
The American-Japanese alliance should remain concrete and continue to extend and improve cooperation throughout Indo-Pacific. Japan is vital for the first island channel, maintains various American military operations and US security gaps in Asia and other regions. Despite false ideas on a unilateral alliance, Tokyo remains a constant and formidable ally.
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