Washington, DC – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the newly proposed Special Measures Agreement between the United States and Japan:  

“I welcome the news that a consensus was reached on the proposed Special Measures Agreement regarding the United States and Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. This cost-sharing agreement sees a six percent increase in host nation support by Japan, which will enable our alliance to bolster our collective security to meet the evolving threats in the region and manage the growing challenges in the security environment.

"The agreement expands our cooperation in new areas such as the procurement of materials and equipment for joint training and facilitates greater interoperability, while bolstering alliance deterrence and readiness. And importantly, it does so with Japan shouldering a greater burden of the cost than it had previously. I commend the Biden Administration and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Government for strengthening our bilateral relationship and long-standing security alliance through this agreement. More than ever, the U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone for a free, open, prosperous, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.”