Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi to Visit US

January 9, 2026

New Delhi: Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Friday that he will visit the United States next week for a week-long visit to strengthen the bilateral alliance in light of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Address at Honolulu Defense Forum, High-Level Talks in Washington

Addressing a press conference, Koizumi said he will deliver a speech at the Honolulu Defense Forum in Hawaii on Monday, then travel to Los Angeles the next day, and then to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold talks with his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday, Japan’s Kyodo News reported.

Open Discussion on the Security Situation and Alliance Strength

Koizumi said, “I plan to have a frank discussion with Secretary Hegseth on the security environment, as well as concrete efforts to further strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities.” He will return to Japan on January 18.

Fourth Meeting with Hegseth, Phone Conversation Held in December

This will be the fourth meeting between Koizumi and Hegseth since Koizumi took office in October. Previously, the two leaders had a phone conversation in December, when Chinese military aircraft acquired radar locks on Japanese Self-Defense Force fighter jets in international waters near Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture.

Meeting with the Indo-Pacific Command Chief

Shinjiro Koizumi will also meet with Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in Honolulu.

Visiting a drone company in Los Angeles, attending an “Operation Tomodachi” event

Koizumi will visit a drone-related company in Los Angeles and attend an event marking the 15th anniversary of “Operation Tomodachi,” a joint relief operation conducted by the US military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Escaping from comment on US action in Venezuela

When asked if he would respond if Hegseth requested a statement in support of recent US actions in Venezuela, Koizumi said, “It’s difficult to answer before the meeting.” However, he added that it is important for the international community to make diplomatic efforts to restore democracy and stabilize the situation in Venezuela.

Concerns over Chinese and Russian military activities

Last week, the US took military action to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Earlier, on December 12, 2025, Koizumi stated that he and Hegseth had shared concerns over the phone about rising tensions in the region. This tension had escalated following a radar lock-on incident between Japanese and Chinese fighter jets and joint patrols by Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan.

“Such actions only escalate tensions”

During the nearly 40-minute phone conversation, the two ministers also discussed the joint patrols by two Chinese and two Russian bombers in the East China Sea and near Japan’s Shikoku island. Koizumi stated that he and Hegseth agreed that such activities further escalate tensions in the region.

Japan hints at a “calm but firm” response

Koizumi stated that Japan would respond to these actions “calmly but firmly” and continue surveillance activities in the surrounding sea and airspace. He also alleged that China neither informed Japan in a timely manner nor issued air or sea warnings about its military exercises.

Radar Lock-On Called ‘Dangerous’

Koizumi once again called the radar lock-on “dangerous,” saying it was beyond the limits required for safe aircraft flight.

US Reiterates Commitment to US-Japan Alliance

A US Department of War statement said, “Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with his Japanese counterpart, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The two leaders discussed Japan’s efforts to increase defense spending, China’s military activities, and the importance of realistic training and exercises throughout Japan, including its southwestern islands. Both reiterated the importance of the US-Japan alliance and expressed their commitment to deter aggression in the Asia-Pacific.”