Breaking News: Trump calls US-Japan security treaty ‘unfair,’ says Japan offers no protection…..See More

Trump questions Japan’s economic gain from US while not offering security in return.

US President Donald Trump criticized the US-Japan Security Treaty, calling it “unequal” and highlighting the one-sided nature of the agreement. Under the treaty, the US is obliged to defend Japan, but Japan is not required to offer similar security guarantees to the US.

“We have a great relationship with Japan, but we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don’t have to protect us,” Trump said after signing an executive order in the Oval Office.

Trump also expressed frustration over Japan’s economic advantages, stating, “They make a fortune with us economically,” before questioning, “I actually asked who makes these deals?”

The President’s comments are likely to fuel concerns in Japan about a potential push from the US for a revised security or trade deal. Japan, which has so far avoided becoming a direct target of tariffs, has a significant trade surplus with the US, which may contribute to Trump’s dissatisfaction.

Trump’s remarks echo earlier complaints made during his first term in office, when he reportedly considered withdrawing from the treaty due to its perceived imbalance.

In response, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated the importance of the US-Japan alliance, stressing Japan’s confidence that the US would fulfill its security obligations, including the use of its nuclear capabilities, under the treaty.

The US-Japan Security Treaty, signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, allows the US to station military forces in Japan in exchange for a commitment to defend Japan if it is attacked.

The treaty was initially signed as part of US efforts to counter the communist bloc during the Cold War, and it remains crucial as tensions rise in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly due to China’s growing military presence and North Korea’s nuclear threat.

Currently, approximately 60,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan, making it home to the largest overseas US military presence. Despite Japan’s pacifist constitution, which prohibits involvement in foreign conflicts, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relaxed restrictions on Japan’s military ten years ago, allowing it to assist in defending allies near Japan.

Trump’s criticism comes amid ongoing concerns raised by Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has suggested an imbalance in the military relationship, with the US benefiting more. Ishiba has also proposed that Japan’s military establish training bases in the US.

While Japan contributes financially to the upkeep of US military bases on its soil, contributing approximately ¥430 billion ($2.9 billion) last year, Trump has previously pressed Japan to increase its annual contribution to $8 billion.

The US-Japan Security Treaty remains a cornerstone of the US’s military strategy in Asia and is likely to remain a topic of ongoing discussion in the years ahead.