January 8, 2026
The U.S. Marine Corps has changed its relocation policy, deciding to keep its Okinawa-based troops, who were previously scheduled to be transferred to Guam. It has become clear that the relocation plan has made little progress.
The Japanese government has provided approximately 373 billion yen in funding for the construction of U.S. military-related facilities in Guam, using “the reduction of Okinawa’s burden of U.S. bases” as an excuse. However, despite receiving the base construction funds, it appears that the U.S. military has no intention of relinquishing its foothold in Okinawa.
Based on a series of agreements, including the May 2006 Roadmap for Realignment Implementation, the Japanese and U.S. governments had stated that about 9,000 U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa would be relocated overseas, with 4,000 of them moving to Guam. Japan’s Ministry of Defense in December 2024 announced that an advance unit of some 100 logistics personnel had relocated from Okinawa to Guam. It explained that the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Headquarters, the 4th Combat Logistics Battalion, and the 4th Marine Regiment would be moving to Guam next.
However, as of the end of 2025, no further relocations had been confirmed. In response to an Akahata inquiry, the Defense Ministry admitted that the relocation plan is not currently progressing.
The USMC in its “Force Design” updated in October 2025 explicitly stated that “the 4th Marine Regiment will be retained in III Marine Expeditionary Force (whose headquarters are in Okinawa) as a reinforced Marine Infantry Regiment.” The original plan was to transfer the III MEF to Guam and reorganize the regiment into the 4th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2027, but this plan appears to have been withdrawn.
In response to Akahata, the Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) in Washington justified this by stating that the relocation is situation-dependent and that a phased approach is being taken in order to maintain operational capabilities and readiness to respond to crises across the Indo-Pacific region in line with U.S.-Japan agreements.
The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to make a start on the relocation in 2024, but have not specified when it will be completed. The USMC is now showing its reluctance to transfer the planned troops to Guam early. Under the guise of countering China, U.S. Marines may remain stationed in Okinawa for an undetermined period of time. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has not explained anything about the change to the USMC relocation policy and has not provided any outlook for advances in the future.
Past related articles:
> Most of Japan’s payments for USMC relocation plan to Guam remain unspent [January 24, 2012]
> Withdraw deceitful Japan-US pact on Marines ‘transfer’ to Guam [May 9, 2011]
> A closer look at U.S. Futenma base’s ‘relocation’ issue [November 1, 2009]
> Japan to use 610 billion yen for a bogus ‘relocation’ of U.S. Marines to Guam from Okinawa [ May 14, 2009]
> Scrap bill to ratify Guam Treaty [April 3, 2009]
> Japan to pay part of costs of construction of U.S. Marine Corps facilities on Guam [February 7, 2009]
The Japanese government has provided approximately 373 billion yen in funding for the construction of U.S. military-related facilities in Guam, using “the reduction of Okinawa’s burden of U.S. bases” as an excuse. However, despite receiving the base construction funds, it appears that the U.S. military has no intention of relinquishing its foothold in Okinawa.
Based on a series of agreements, including the May 2006 Roadmap for Realignment Implementation, the Japanese and U.S. governments had stated that about 9,000 U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa would be relocated overseas, with 4,000 of them moving to Guam. Japan’s Ministry of Defense in December 2024 announced that an advance unit of some 100 logistics personnel had relocated from Okinawa to Guam. It explained that the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Headquarters, the 4th Combat Logistics Battalion, and the 4th Marine Regiment would be moving to Guam next.
However, as of the end of 2025, no further relocations had been confirmed. In response to an Akahata inquiry, the Defense Ministry admitted that the relocation plan is not currently progressing.
The USMC in its “Force Design” updated in October 2025 explicitly stated that “the 4th Marine Regiment will be retained in III Marine Expeditionary Force (whose headquarters are in Okinawa) as a reinforced Marine Infantry Regiment.” The original plan was to transfer the III MEF to Guam and reorganize the regiment into the 4th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2027, but this plan appears to have been withdrawn.
In response to Akahata, the Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) in Washington justified this by stating that the relocation is situation-dependent and that a phased approach is being taken in order to maintain operational capabilities and readiness to respond to crises across the Indo-Pacific region in line with U.S.-Japan agreements.
The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to make a start on the relocation in 2024, but have not specified when it will be completed. The USMC is now showing its reluctance to transfer the planned troops to Guam early. Under the guise of countering China, U.S. Marines may remain stationed in Okinawa for an undetermined period of time. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has not explained anything about the change to the USMC relocation policy and has not provided any outlook for advances in the future.
Past related articles:
> Most of Japan’s payments for USMC relocation plan to Guam remain unspent [January 24, 2012]
> Withdraw deceitful Japan-US pact on Marines ‘transfer’ to Guam [May 9, 2011]
> A closer look at U.S. Futenma base’s ‘relocation’ issue [November 1, 2009]
> Japan to use 610 billion yen for a bogus ‘relocation’ of U.S. Marines to Guam from Okinawa [ May 14, 2009]
> Scrap bill to ratify Guam Treaty [April 3, 2009]
> Japan to pay part of costs of construction of U.S. Marine Corps facilities on Guam [February 7, 2009]
