Current Events > Trump demands Japan quadruples payment for US military presence

(+) Yeah! (+)

President Donald Trump has asked Japan to quadruple annual payments for U.S. forces stationed there to around $8 billion, Foreign Policy reported, part of Washington's efforts to press its allies to increase their defense spending.

The current agreement that covers the 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan expires in March 2021.

The demand was made to Japanese officials during a trip to the region in July by John Bolton, at that time Trump's national security adviser, and Matt Pottinger, who was then the Asia director for the National Security Council, the U.S. global affairs magazine said, citing unidentified former U.S. officials.

A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said the report was incorrect and no U.S.-Japan negotiations on a new agreement have taken place.

According to Kyodo news agency, Japanese officials told Bolton the increase is "unrealistic", saying Japan already pays a greater share of stationing costs than other allies.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said in an emailed statement: "The President has made clear that allies and partners should contribute more to their shared defense."

Negotiations to renew the agreement will start in the first half of next year, the spokesman said, adding that the U.S. commitment to Japan's defense was "unwavering".

Japan hosts the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, including the only permanently forward deployed carrier strike group, as well as the Third Marine Expeditionary Force.

In addition to defending Japan, those units use the archipelago as a base for operations in the wider Asia-Pacific region where U.S. military power acts as a counterbalance to China's growing influence.

Trump has also insisted Seoul shoulder more of the cost of the U.S. military presence in South Korea, where it serves as deterrence against North Korea, and has floated the idea of pulling U.S. troops from the peninsula.

Full Article: https://japantoday.com/category/politics/trump-asked-tokyo-for-8-bln-to-keep-u.s.-troops-in-japan-foreign-policy

I get where Trump is coming from but he seems to forget why there is a US presence there is the first place
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UnfairRepresent posted...

I get where Trump is coming from but he seems to forget why there is a US presence there is the first place

No he's right. Japan needs protecting from the invaders and only American can give them that.
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He'll get some money out of it. Not what he's apparently asking for, but a bit for sure.

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Trump is dumb enough to think that we don't get value out of having bases in those countries. We should almost be paying them for the privilege.
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He's literally a mob boss running a protection racket
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Would be quite unfortunate if we were to...etc.
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UnfairRepresent posted...

he seems to forget why there is a US presence there is the first place

Anteaterking posted...

Trump is dumb enough to think that we don't get value out of having bases in those countries. We should almost be paying them for the privilege.

Bluebomber182 posted...

He's literally a mob boss running a protection racket

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The US actually benefits the most having our army bases in other countries than thebother way around....
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This is dumb, but the silver lining here is that the rest of the world may realize they can't be completely dependent on the US to unilaterally defend all of them. The reason these sorts of actions are so terrifying is because a lot of people have realized that without the US in Europe or Asia, countries like China or Russia could steamroll over the continent with nobody to stop them.

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s0nicfan posted...

This is dumb, but the silver lining here is that the rest of the world may realize they can't be completely dependent on the US to unilaterally defend all of them. The reason these sorts of actions are so terrifying is because a lot of people have realized that without the US in Europe or Asia, countries like China or Russia could steamroll over the continent with nobody to stop them.

wut

You do know most of Western Europe has nukes right?

Russia or China attempting to "Steamroll" Europe would be suicide and gain them nothing

Especially China who are pretty much just buying Europe piece by piece
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UnfairRepresent posted...

You do know most of Western Europe has nukes right?

Doesn't mean they'll use them, because then Russia will just return the favor.

Trumpzilla

Imagine a country says you can keep your troops in their country, closer to your geopolitical enemies, and they'll even help pay for it and you go, yeah, but we need more money or we'll just keep them back in our country and pay the entire cost ourselves.

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Bluebomber182 posted...

He's literally a mob boss running a protection racket

The USA has always been this. He's just upping the price

They should demand the US pay them

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ssjevot posted...

Imagine a country says you can keep your troops in their country, closer to your geopolitical enemies, and they'll even help pay for it and you go, yeah, but we need more money or we'll just keep them back in our country and pay the entire cost ourselves.

The Japanese government.

The provincial government in Okinawa would disagree with having military presence on their island after the rapes, bar fights, and Osprey crashes that go on.

TheGleamEyes posted...

The Japanese government.

The provincial government in Okinawa would disagree with having military presence on their island after the rapes, bar fights, and Osprey crashes that go on.

The crime rate for the troops there is actually lower than the locals, but yes the press they get is bad. The anti-base protestors also receive a lot of support from PRC linked organizations and the PRC has been making claims that Okinawa used to be part of China. It's even teaching it to people so you occasionally see PRC bots on Reddit talking about how Okinawa used to be part of China. Most people in Japan know the US bases are absolutely needed. The disagreement in Okinawa is over how much they are expected to host and the construction of a new base, most want the US forces to remain in some capacity.

https://preview.tinyurl.com/scjc4rg

2010 221 76.4 16.2 77.3 9.9 4.2[4]

Basically 2010 poll found 76% find the US Japan security treaty to be beneficial, and only 16.2% don't. When asked what the best way to keep Japan safe was in, 77.3% said to keep things as they are, 9.9% want the US out and just use the JSDF, and 4.2% want the US out and to eliminate the JSDF. I think you can safely conclude 4.2% of those people have an inability to think rationally and the majority of normal people prefer the current situation.


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And just like that the US armed forces go from national military to merc company.