The transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam officially began on Saturday, marking the start of a process that was agreed upon 12 years ago by Japan and the United States. The goal is to reduce the heavy burden of American troop presence on the southern Japanese island.
Initial logistics work for the relocation started with 100 members of III Marine Expeditionary Force stationed on Okinawa moving to Guam. This is part of a larger plan to move about 9,000 of the 19,000 Marines currently on Okinawa, with roughly 4,000 of them being relocated to Guam in phases. Details about the size and timing of the next transfer have not been released yet.
The U.S. Marine Corps is dedicated to defending Japan and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. They will continue to have a presence in the area through a combination of stationed and rotating Marines in Japan, Guam, and Hawaii.
Japan has contributed up to $2.8 billion for infrastructure development at U.S. bases on Guam, with the U.S. government funding the remaining costs. Both governments will work together on the development of Camp Blaz, which will serve as the main installation for Marines in Guam. Joint training exercises between the Marines and Japan Self Defense Forces will also take place in Guam.
Okinawa, which still hosts a majority of American troops in Japan, has faced issues such as noise, pollution, accidents, and crime related to the military presence. The relocation of Marines is expected to be welcomed by local residents, although the impact remains uncertain due to the rapid Japanese military buildup on Okinawan islands as a deterrent to threats from China.
The start of the relocation coincides with growing anti-U.S. military sentiment following recent sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the island. One such case involved a senior Air Force member from Kadena Air Base who was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl, sparking outrage in the community. He was sentenced to five years in prison by the Naha District Court.
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