Tokyo, Jan 9 (NationPress) Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi declared on Friday his upcoming trip to the United States next week, aimed at enhancing the bilateral alliance amidst a deteriorating security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.

During a press conference, Koizumi announced he will address the Honolulu Defence Forum in Hawaii on Monday, followed by a visit to Los Angeles the next day, and then to Washington, where he is set to engage in discussions with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth on Thursday, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

Koizumi remarked, "With Secretary Hegseth, I intend to have an open dialogue regarding the security landscape and specific strategies to further enhance our alliance's deterrence and response capabilities." He will return to Japan on January 18.

This meeting will mark the fourth time Koizumi and Hegseth have convened since Koizumi took office in October of last year. The two officials previously communicated via phone in December after a Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese Self-Defence Forces fighter jets in international waters near Okinawa.

In Honolulu, Koizumi will also confer with Admiral Samuel Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command. His itinerary includes a visit to a drone-related company in Los Angeles and participation in a reception marking the 15th anniversary of Operation Tomodachi, which involved joint rescue and relief operations by the US military and Japan's Self-Defence Forces following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

When queried about whether he would support recent US actions in Venezuela if prompted by Hegseth, Koizumi replied, "It’s challenging to provide a definitive answer before our meeting." He emphasized the necessity for the international community to engage in diplomatic efforts to restore democracy and stabilize the situation in Venezuela.

Last week, the US executed a military operation in Venezuela to apprehend President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, subsequently bringing them to New York to face charges for alleged crimes.

On December 12, 2025, Koizumi shared that he and Hegseth expressed concern during a phone conversation regarding escalating tensions in the region following a radar lock-on incident involving Japanese and Chinese fighter jets, as well as a joint patrol of Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan.

For approximately 40 minutes, the two ministers agreed to maintain communication to mitigate tensions, as reported by Kyodo News.

In their discussion, they also addressed a joint patrol conducted by Chinese and Russian bombers over the East China Sea and the Pacific near Japan’s Shikoku Island.

Koizumi informed reporters that he and Hegseth concurred that such actions only exacerbate regional tensions. He affirmed Japan's readiness to respond to these provocations in a "calm yet decisive manner, while diligently conducting surveillance in our surrounding seas and airspace."

He reiterated that China has not been forthcoming with critical information to Japan, such as navigational warnings or notice of air missions, including areas designated for Chinese military flight training. He labeled the radar lock-on as "dangerous" and an action that "exceeded what is necessary for safe aircraft operation."

The US Department of War stated, "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke with his Japanese counterpart, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, today. The two leaders discussed Japan's initiatives to increase defence spending and enhance its military capabilities, alongside China’s military activities and the significance of realistic training and exercises in Japan, particularly in the Southwest Islands. Both reaffirmed the importance of the US-Japan Alliance and their commitment to deterring aggression in the Asia-Pacific."