WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised Japan’s commitment to boost its defense spending in a meeting with visiting Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Jan. 15 at the Pentagon.

With Japan planning to revise its three security-related documents within the year, Koizumi explained the country’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities, and the two also discussed increasing defense spending.

At the start of their meeting, Hegseth said he was “very pleased to see your prime minister commit last year to increasing Japan’s defense spending.”

He also expressed his appreciation, saying, “We see the strength and the investment that Japan is making, and we think that’s a really important step and welcome and appreciate that,” and encouraged further efforts.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking to revise the three security-related documents ahead of schedule and increase Japanese defense spending to “2 percent or more” of its gross domestic product.

According to the Defense Ministry, Koizumi conveyed to Hegseth during the meeting that regarding the revision of the three documents, Japan is “considering all options without ruling any out.”

The two also confirmed that they will work to expand more advanced and practical joint training exercises, including in Japan’s southwest region.

After the meeting, Koizumi told reporters, “There is absolutely no wavering in the Japan-U.S. alliance, and I have confirmed that both countries are able to coordinate closely.”

Koizumi also met with Vice President JD Vance at the White House for about 30 minutes.

They reportedly discussed the regional situation and the strengthening of Japan’s defense capabilities.

The U.S. stance of demanding that its allies increase their defense spending has become more pronounced under the second Trump administration.

Last June, the United States cited as a “success story” that NATO pledged to boost its defense spending target to 5 percent of GDP, including a 3.5 percent portion for “core defense spending.”

Subsequently, the United States praised South Korea, which announced it would raise its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, as a model ally, and had been pressuring Japan to increase its defense spending to expand its role in regional security.

Earlier this month, the United States launched a large-scale attack on Venezuela in South America and captured President Nicolas Maduro to stand trial.

Amid increasing anxiety about U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, the Japanese side had stated ahead of the Koizumi-Hegseth meeting its desire to “show the unwavering nature of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” according to a Defense Ministry official.

This is Koizumi’s first visit to the United States since being appointed defense minister in October. Prior to Washington, he also visited Honolulu and Los Angeles.

(This article was written by Ryo Kiyomiya and correspondent Sotaro Hata.)