Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth hailed the “shared warrior ethos” between the US and Japan Saturday on Iwo Jiwa, the place he attended a memorial service for many who died within the bloody and pivotal World Struggle II battle on its eightieth anniversary.
“Over 80,000 Marines, soldiers, and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here. Today, we revere their courage. Today, we remember their valor and sacrifice,” Hegseth mentioned in the course of the service.
Iwo Jima embodies “our shared devotion to the nation, and to duty and our shared reverence for the men of valor who preceded us,” continued Hegseth, who was joined by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, and different officers on the Reunion of Honor occasion.
Six veterans — throughout 100 years outdated — additionally attended the memorial for the battle which was fought from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945.
Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman, was shot within the leg by a Japanese sniper a couple of days after touchdown on the distant island — the place some 250 Marines have been additionally killed in that quick span.
“I felt some sadness in my heart that I realized that this is one of the futilities of war,” mentioned Cram, 99, who introduced a flag he took from an Japanese soldier and gave it to an official on the service.
Hegseth mentioned the alliance between the 2 nations — extra essential than ever amid growing threats by China — is the “cornerstone of freedom, prosperity, security and peace in the Indo-Pacific.”
“The U.S.-Japan alliance shows how yesterday’s enemy has become today’s friends,” he added.
In February, President Trump hosted Ishiba on the White Home and spoke about their must safe the area by way of their relations with allies, together with with Australia, India, South Korea and the Philippines.
Trump sees Japan as an integral half in retaining US pursuits protected within the Indo-Pacific as China has been flexing its muscle groups within the South China Sea, a serious commerce route.
Hegseth who’s on his first journey to Asia, referred to as out “China’s aggression in the region” within the Philippines on Friday, and emphasised the significance of bolstering the US alliance with Manila.
The US-Japan relationship can also be very important to opposing Russian and North Korean aggression within the area. China, Russia and North Korea have grown nearer lately.
Moscow has despatched North Korean troops to combat within the warfare in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese language chief Xi Jinping have had shut communication.
On Sunday, Hegseth will maintain talks with Nakatani in Tokyo to debate additional strengthening the US-Japan alliance.
“We must not forget that the peace and prosperity we enjoy today have been built upon the noble sacrifices of those who died in the war and the tireless efforts of the people over the past 80 years since the end of the war,” mentioned Ishiba.
With Put up Wire Companies
