US and Japanese national security leaders recently met to unveil the new guidelines for US/Japan defence cooperation, during the Security Consultative Committee meeting in New York.

Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida and Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani covered all aspects of the US/Japanese alliance, revising the defence guidelines for the first time since 1997.

The revision comes after the Japanese Government reinterpreted the Japanese constitution to allow a greater international role, including greater military cooperation. It is hoped this will enhance Japan’s security, deter threats and contribute to regional peace and stability.

The leaders affirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation in ballistic missile defence, including placing two more US ballistic missile defence destroyers in Japan and continuing deployment of a second X-band radar in the country.

The two sides discussed ways to expand tri-lateral and multi-lateral cooperation. This includes Australia and South Korea and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The ministers also talked about the realignment of US forces based in Japan, including relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the island of Okinawa.