US marine commander in Japan, meets defence min.

Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder, Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, visited Nobuo Kishi, Japanese Defense Minister, in Tokyo on Friday.

Kishi thanked Rudder for the presence of the III Marine Expeditionary Force in the Indo-Pacific. The two allies have been strengthening military cooperation.

Japan has been expanding its defense budget and capability for about a decade. Rudder said that, alongside Japan, they were looking to develop capabilities and tactics to ensure readiness in the region should the need develop.