Photo/Illutration Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks with reporters on Jan. 31 after a phone meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Mizuki Sato)

Japan received reassurances of continued close ties with its U.S. ally including confirmation that a security treaty covers the disputed Senkaku Islands from new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Jan. 31.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani spoke in a 40-minute phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart and for now there appear to be no major changes regarding Japan’s defense.

After the conversation, Nakatani met with reporters and said, “It was very meaningful that we agreed upon the significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance and that persistent effort by our two nations to strengthen deterrence capabilities is indispensable to the peace and stability of the region.”

According to Defense Ministry officials who briefed reporters, Nakatani first expressed condolences about the tragic collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29.

Nakatani and Hegseth confirmed that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which obliges the United States to defend Japanese territories, covers the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

After the conversation, Nakatani told reporters he was very encouraged by that confirmation.

When Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Jan. 21, the Americans made no clear reference to Article 5 of the Security Treaty covering the Senkakus.

Nakatani and Hegseth also agreed to cooperate toward achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific region as well as coordinate a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.

Analysts have noted that the Trump administration could ask Japan to increase its defense spending or purchase more U.S.-made defense equipment under Trump’s “America First” stance.

Reporters asked Nakatani whether these topics arose in his conversation with Hegseth, but he declined to answer.