Japan, U.S. unveil 'most significant' defense upgrade amid 'global threats'

TOKYO -- Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and the U.S. on Sunday announced a far-reaching update to their alliance in response to what they described as a "profound level of global threats" to peace and security.

At the so-called two-plus-two meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and their American counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin agreed to establish a new U.S. joint force headquarters to assume "primary responsibility for coordinating security activities in and around Japan."