US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base U.S. Air Force Logo June 2, 2023 US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III exits an E-4B National Airborne Operations Center upon arrival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. During his visit to Japan, Secretary Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is greeted by Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander, upon arrival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. During his visit to Japan, Secretary Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is greeted by Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Dunn, 374th Airlift Wing command chief, upon arrival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. During his visit to Japan, Secretary Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III talks to U.S. military members during a troop engagement event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin also met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III talks to U.S. military members during a troop engagement event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin traveled to Japan to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III talks to U.S. military members during a troop engagement event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin also met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base An Air Force E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, carrying Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, arrives at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin traveled to Japan to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders and is the result of the United States and Japan taking important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III talks to U.S. military members before handing out appreciation coins during a troop talk event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin also met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks with Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, during his visit to Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin traveled to Japan to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III greets an aviator from the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan before boarding on an UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. During his visit to Japan, Secretary Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III boards a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan, Camp Zama, Japan, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. During his visit to Japan, Secretary Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, salutes Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III after he boards a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan, Camp Zama, Japan, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin traveled to Japan to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith) Details Download Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was welcomed by Team Yokota leadership and a diverse selection of U.S. military members from the area during a diplomatic visit to Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior officials, as they continue talks aimed at strengthening and modernizing the U.S.-Japan Alliance May 31, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Secretary Austin spent his time at Yokota speaking with U.S. Forces Japan military members and presenting appreciation coins to superior performers before departing to Tokyo via UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters from the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion, Camp Zama, Japan. “Increasingly, we (the U.S. and Japan) are working together more,” Secretary Austin said. “When you talk about interoperability, it’s not about just having a common platform, the same kind of vehicle or aircraft, you also need the same policies and procedures to be able to work with one another and you’ve got to develop trust.” Secretary Austin commented that the government of Japan has responded to increased regional security concerns in the past year by effectively doubling their defense investments and deepening defense ties to U.S. and Indo-Pacific allies in order to further their capabilities. “We’re working to increase that in-person contact to develop greater trust,” Secretary Austin said. “There will be more exercises happening in the region to help develop our partnership.” The diplomatic visit is an important stride in modernizing U.S.-Japan Alliance capabilities, optimizing U.S. force posture in the region, and to build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan "2+2" Ministerial meeting earlier this year.