Sat Mar 29 16:10:37 UTC 2025: ## US Defense Secretary Praises US-Japan Alliance at Iwo Jima Memorial
**Tokyo, March 29, 2025** – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lauded the strong friendship and trust between the United States and Japan during a memorial service on Iwo Jima, commemorating the fallen soldiers of World War II. The visit, Hegseth’s second stop on his first Asia trip following the Philippines, comes amidst rising tensions in the region, including China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and President Trump’s threatened trade tariffs on Japan.
The memorial service, known as the “Reunion of Honor,” saw Hegseth alongside surviving American veterans, bereaved Japanese families, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Hegseth highlighted Iwo Jima as a symbol of shared sacrifice and the remarkable transformation of former enemies into allies. “The U.S.-Japan alliance shows…how yesterday’s enemy has become today’s friends,” he stated, emphasizing its role in maintaining peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Ishiba, the first serving Japanese Prime Minister to attend the joint memorial, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the importance of remembering the past and the ongoing commitment to peace. He stressed the need to continue sharing the lessons of war to prevent future conflicts.
Hegseth’s visit underscores the deepening military cooperation between the U.S. and Japan in the face of growing threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. He is scheduled to hold further talks with Minister Nakatani in Tokyo on Sunday to discuss strengthening the alliance. Recent polls indicate strong public support for the U.S.-Japan alliance in both countries.
First Piper 