Japan signs agreement to give U.S. 6 billion dollars to move U.S. Marines to Guam from Okinawa

Japan Press Weekly

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Japan signs agreement to give U.S. 6 billion dollars to move U.S. Marines to Guam from Okinawa

Japan has formally pledged to contribute six billion dollars to pay for the cost of relocating a part of U.S. Marine Corps contingent currently stationed in Okinawa to U.S. Guam in the South Pacific.

On February 18, Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signed an agreement on the implementation of the plan of the relocation to be completed by 2014.

At a press conference after the signing ceremony, Clinton stated that the agreement "enshrines our two nations' shared contributions in carrying out the realignment of our forces and the relocation of marines from Okinawa to Guam."

Under the agreement, Japan will pay 6.1 billion dollars (60 percent of the total cost for the relocation), including 2.8 billion dollars in cash.

The agreement states that the transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam "is dependent on: (1) tangible progress toward completion of the Futenma Replacement Facility, and (2) Japan's financial contributions to fund the development and construction of required facilities and infrastructure on Guam."

Under the agreement, Japan is also called upon to implement the plan to construct a new U.S. base in Nago City's Henoko district as an alternative facility of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City.

- Akahata, February 18, 2009