Kyodo News: "US to Relocate Marines Stationed in Okinawa, Japan to Guam"

From December, 4,000 Troops to be Redeployed

There are local reports in Japan that the United States may redeploy its Marine Corps forces stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam starting at the end of the year.

An Osprey transport aircraft of the US Forces Japan preparing for takeoff at the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kyodo News reported on the 16th, citing a U.S. Marine Corps official, that the United States will redeploy 4,000 troops stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam beginning this December. The plan includes starting with logistics personnel and completing the transfer by 2028.

Previously, the U.S. and Japanese governments reached an agreement in 2006 to relocate the Marine Corps to reduce the burden of U.S. bases in Okinawa, and finalized related plans in 2012. The plan called for relocating 4,000 of the 19,000 Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam, and 5,000 to Hawaii or the U.S. mainland.

Additionally, in January last year, during the diplomatic and defense ministers (2+2) meeting held in Washington, D.C., both countries confirmed the swift promotion of the plan to relocate the Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam. If the plan is implemented, the number of U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa will be reduced to 10,000.

After the troop relocation, the United States plans to reorganize the Marines stationed in Okinawa into a Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR). The MLR is a new concept unit included in the 2020 "2030 U.S. Marine Corps Development Strategy." It is tasked with being deployed to frontline island areas within enemy territory to dominate the seas.