U.S. and Japan Honor WWII Sacrifices, Strengthen Alliance at Historic Iwo Jima Memorial

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba underscore deepening ties and shared security goals in the Indo-Pacific during the first joint memorial attended by a sitting Japanese leader.

• U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the Iwo Jima memorial service, marking his first official visit to Japan as part of a broader Asia trip.
• Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba became the first sitting Japanese leader to join the joint memorial, emphasizing reconciliation and the importance of learning from history to prevent future conflicts.
• Hegseth highlighted the U.S.-Japan alliance as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific security, prosperity, and peace, while honoring the sacrifices made during the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima.
• The event brought together American veterans, Japanese bereaved families, and officials to commemorate one of WWII’s fiercest battles, which claimed nearly 27,000 lives.
• Hegseth is set to meet Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to discuss enhancing military cooperation in response to growing regional threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.

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