WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the below statement in response to U.S.-Japan security cooperation developments announced in a joint press release from the White House and Prime Minister Kishida:

“Strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific requires advancing the U.S.-Japan alliance by upgrading our mutual and respective command and control. More effective U.S.-Japan alliance command and control will further integrate our two militaries,” Senator Wicker said. “In order to achieve that benefit, the United States needs to establish a fully operational Joint Task Force Headquarters, as mandated by FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, along with subordinate Joint Task Forces. As Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I look forward to holding the Department of Defense accountable to implement this legislatively mandated requirement.”

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