Regarding the Japanese side's burden of stationing expenses for US forces in Japan, the Japanese and US governments will temporarily maintain the current level in the new fiscal year, and then enter into final adjustments to negotiate the burden for the next four years. It is expected to be concluded next week.
The US-Japan negotiations over the so-called "compassionate budget", which the Japanese side bears the cost of stationing US forces in Japan, could not be negotiated with the former Trump administration and was taken over by the Biden administration.
And as the deadline for the "special agreement" signed almost every five years approaches next month, the two governments will tentatively maintain the current level in the new fiscal year, and will continue for four years from the next fiscal year 2022. Regarding the burden amount, we have entered the final adjustment in the direction of negotiating again.
Negotiations are expected to be concluded next week, and the two governments are rushing to coordinate the agreement, including the preparation of an agreement document.
The Government of Japan hopes to sign a "special agreement" within the month and obtain parliamentary approval within the next month if the negotiations are concluded.