Japan Press Weekly

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2012 February 29 - March 6 [US FORCES]

US wants to keep major Marine command and unit in Okinawa

In bilateral talks reviewing U.S. forces’ realignment in Japan, the U.S. expressed that it wants to maintain the marine expeditionary force command and unit in Okinawa. The Japanese government revealed this on February 29.

What the U.S. side wants to maintain in Okinawa are the command for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (3MEF) and its 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (about 2,200 troops).

By keeping them deployed in Okinawa, the U.S. forces will maintain the combat readiness it has had in Okinawa.

The two governments have agreed to relocate 8,000 out of 18,000 Marine troops from Okinawa to other areas in the Pacific, including Guam.