This morning, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera to express appreciation for the Government of Japan's efforts in securing approval of the landfill permit request to build the Futenma Replacement Facility at Camp Schwab-Henoko Bay, which is a critical part of the realignment of U.S. forces on Okinawa.
"He also noted the importance of the recent agreement by the United States and Japan to negotiate a framework to supplement the Status of Forces Agreement on environmental matters.
"Secretary Hagel and Minister Onodera discussed the implementation of several Alliance initiatives announced in the Oct. 3, 2013, 2+2 statement, including the deployment of a second TPY-2 missile defense radar to Japan and the launch of a forward-looking revision of the U.S.-Japan Defense Guidelines, where the two agreed on the importance of a transparent process.
"Secretary Hagel underscored the importance of Japan taking steps to improve relations with its neighbors, and to promote cooperation in advancing the shared goals of regional peace and stability. Secretary Hagel said he looked forward to continued bilateral discussions on strengthening the Alliance to meet the security challenges of the 21st century."
防衛省・自衛隊：小野寺防衛大臣とヘーゲル米国防長官の電話会談について
平成２６年１月４日、小野寺防衛大臣とヘーゲル米国防長官との電話会談が行われました。
普天間飛行場の移設に関して、仲井眞沖縄県知事による普天間飛行場代替施設に係る公有水面の埋立の承認を受け、ヘーゲル長官から、本件に関する日本側の取組に対して謝意が示されました。小野寺大臣からは、これまでの米側の協力に対して謝意を述べつつ、防衛省としても、沖縄の負担軽減に向けて全力を挙げて取り組んでいく旨説明しました。
小野寺大臣とヘーゲル長官は、沖縄の負担軽減やガイドラインの見直しを含む日米間の諸課題に関して、両国が引き続き緊密に連携していくことで一致しました。
