Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Walter Hatch
“It’s a pathetic milestone: Two months ago, about 100 U.S. Marines who otherwise would have been stationed in Okinawa ended up instead on a base in Guam. This was the first force reduction contemplated by longstanding negotiations between Washington and Tokyo designed to trim the gigantic U.S. military footprint in Japan’s southern-most prefecture. Eventually, 9,000 Marines — a little less than half the number now deployed there — are supposed to exit Okinawa. But don’t hold your breath. The two countries, members of the most important security alliance in Asia, have been slow-walking the process.” (02/27/25)