Overview
- 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.