White House demanding Japan triple host-nation support for U.S. troops

The United States is demanding that Japan provide a total of ¥3 trillion over the five years starting in fiscal 2027 for U.S. forces stationed in the country under its Host Nation Support program, about three times the current five-year total of around ¥1 trillion, sources have said.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government is estimating the amount at around ¥1.5 trillion for the next five years, taking into account the yen’s depreciation and rising prices.

Although the two governments aim to reach an agreement by the end of this year, negotiations are likely to be difficult.

Tokyo’s host-nation support for the five years through fiscal 2026, which ends in March 2027, totaled ¥1.06 trillion, averaging about ¥210 billion annually. Even under Japan’s estimate, the annual average would rise to ¥300 billion.

“Even the impact of foreign exchange rates alone would increase the amount to about 1.5 times the previous level,” one source said.

The Japanese government is also considering proposals to build shelters and take other measures to ensure that U.S. military bases in Japan can maintain their functions even if attacked.

During the first administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington reportedly demanded more than four times the amount provided under the program at the time.

“We’re working hard to make adjustments in response to the high demands,” a Japanese government source said.