May 13, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko on May 12 at a Diet meeting demanded that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) be fundamentally revised in order to prevent the U.S. military from using its bases in Japan for the purpose of conducting combat operations abroad.

At the meeting of the House of Representatives Security Committee, Tamura noted that regarding the ongoing war on Iran, Italy has refused to permit U.S. military aircraft destined for Middle East operations to land at Italian bases. She, as the reason for this, cited that under the existing bilateral treaty between Italy and the United States, the U.S. military must obtain consent from the Italian government to use bases in Italy to conduct military operations.

Tamura demanded that the SOFA, which grants the U.S. military the exclusive right to use bases in Japan, be revised so that Japan can take the same action as Italy did.

Furthermore, Tamura brought up the issue of the U.S. forces in Japan participating in the unprovoked war of aggression against Iran.

Tamura referred to the exchange of notes between Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke and U.S. Secretary of State Christian A. Herter concerning the implementation of Article 6 of the 1960 revised Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. In the notes, the U.S. military is required to hold prior consultation with the Japanese government before using bases in Japan for military combat operations abroad.

Tamura also referred to the joint communique between the Japanese and U.S. leaders which was issued on the occasion of the signing of the revised bilateral security treaty. The joint statement states that the U.S. government guarantees that it has no intention of acting in a manner contrary to the wishes of Japanese citizens with respect to the matters involving prior consultation under the treaty.

Citing the fact that over 80% of the Japanese populace oppose the U.S. attacks on Iran, Tamura said that the U.S. forces in Japan’s participation in the military operations against Iran violates the prior consultation obligation under the treaty.

Stating that the Takaichi government has never made a prior consultation request to the U.S., Tamura criticized the government for permitting the U.S. military in Japan to take part in the unlawful war. In response, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu claimed that since the United States had not requested prior consultation, combat operations were not taken.