Japan Approves Budget to Host US Military Amid Stronger Cooperation

A U.S. Marine Corp Osprey comes in to land next to soldiers from Japans 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade during an exercise with the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Gotemba, Japan, on March 15, 2022. Carl Court/Getty Images

Japan’s parliament on Friday approved a new agreement with the United States to spend 1 trillion yen ($8 billion) over five years to host U.S. troops, as both countries seek to bolster military cooperation amid threats from China and North Korea.

Under the agreement, Japan will spend 1.05 trillion yen through March 2027 on the advanced arsenals used in joint military exercises, and on expenses to run facilities used by the U.S. forces and the Japanese employees working on American bases in the country.