Japan Army Chief’s Visit Underscores ‘Critical Importance’ of Defense Cooperation with US

The relationship is a key part of U.S. foreign policy as a line of defense against Chinese military expansion in the Pacific.

(L to R) Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Gen. Yasunori Morishita, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, and Joint Task Force–National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Commanding General Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp walk through the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on Feb. 27, 2025. Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army

News Analysis

Japan’s army chief visited the United States last week and met with his U.S. counterpart, just months after the U.S. military expressed interest in placing units of its long-range missile task force in the Asian nation. Japan’s ministry of defense said the visit highlighted “the critical importance of defense cooperation” between the two nations.