Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the United States to bolster the Japan-U.S. alliance against China's military coercion, meeting U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The two demonstrated alliance strength through a joint workout and agreed to expand joint exercises and defense industry cooperation.
On January 17, 2026, in Washington, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reaffirm the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. security alliance. Koizumi pushed for the visit amid concerns over China's escalating military coercion, following incidents like a Chinese aircraft carrier's radar lock on Japanese Self-Defense Forces planes on December 6 and a joint China-Russia bomber flight toward Tokyo on December 9. The two agreed via phone call shortly after to hold an early face-to-face meeting.
The day before, on January 16 in Virginia, they worked out intensely with U.S. Army's historic Old Guard unit to symbolize alliance vigor. Hegseth remarked, “We got up and showed the actual physical strength of the U.S.-Japanese alliance,” calling it a great demonstration. Koizumi, who suffered mild dehydration, replied, “First, Japan must exert every effort. Then the United States will support us. I feel as though I have embodied the very essence of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” earning a thumbs-up from Hegseth.
In the talks, Koizumi reaffirmed Japan's commitment to bolstering defense capabilities and increasing spending, while expressing support for the Trump administration's 'peace through strength' policy. Hegseth welcomed these efforts. Joint Japan-U.S. exercises in fiscal 2024 had doubled to 51 from a decade earlier, and they committed to further cooperation in training, command-and-control improvements—including operational authority for U.S. Forces Japan—and joint defense equipment production and maintenance. Prior to the meeting, Koizumi adapted the 'Make America Great Again' slogan in a Hawaii speech, saying, “Make the Alliance Great Always,” positioning the alliance as the foundation for Indo-Pacific stability.
These steps highlight efforts to counter potential Chinese provocations that could strain Tokyo-Washington ties under a more conciliatory U.S. stance toward Beijing.
