TOKYO – The movement of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam commenced on Saturday, marking a significant step in a realignment effort that was agreed upon between Japan and the United States 12 years ago. The aim is to alleviate the substantial burden that American military presence places on the southern Japanese island, as announced by officials.
The relocation process initiated with the transfer of 100 personnel from the III Marine Expeditionary Force currently based in Okinawa, who will be moving to Guam to undertake preliminary logistical operations, according to a joint statement from the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan’s Defense Ministry.
This strategic plan, which was agreed upon in April 2012, stipulates that around 9,000 out of the 19,000 Marines stationed in Okinawa will be relocated. Of these, approximately 4,000 Marines are slated to be transferred to Guam in phases. However, specifics about the future transfer’s scale and timing have yet to be disclosed.
The Marine Corps emphasized their commitment to Japan’s defense while ensuring operational readiness to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific. Their presence in the region will be sustained through a mix of stationed and rotating Marines across Japan, Guam, and Hawaii, as outlined in the joint statement.
Japan has invested up to $2.8 billion in the development of infrastructure at U.S. bases located in Guam, with the U.S. government covering the remainder of the financial needs. Both countries are set to collaborate in the construction and development of Camp Blaz, which will be the primary base for Marines in Guam.
Joint training exercises between the Marines and Japan Self-Defense Forces will also take place in Guam, according to the statement.
Okinawa, which remained under U.S. occupation until 1972, hosts a significant majority of the more than 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan under a security alliance. Notably, 70% of U.S. military facilities are located on Okinawa, which makes up only 0.6% of Japan’s total land area.
Long-standing grievances from Okinawans about the dense U.S. military presence include concerns over noise, environmental pollution, aircraft mishaps, and crime tied to American service members. While many local residents are likely to welcome the Marines’ relocation, the extent to which they will experience improvement remains uncertain, particularly given Japan’s accelerating military build-up on its islands as a measure against perceived threats from China.
The relocation of Marines comes amid rising anti-U.S. military sentiment, especially following several sexual assault incidents involving American troops. Recently, a senior Air Force member stationed at Kadena Air Base was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl the previous year, which ignited public outrage on the island. The Naha District Court has sentenced him to five years in prison for his actions.
