Key facts
- The US demand is for more than 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) over five years starting in fiscal 2027, sources said.
- Japan is weighing a payment of roughly 1.5 trillion yen, the sources said.
- The current host-nation support agreement expires in March 2027, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
- Foreign and defense officials from both countries have held talks on a replacement contract since July, Asahi reported.
The US administration of President Donald Trump has demanded that Japan more than triple its spending on hosting American troops to over 3 trillion yen ($19 billion) over five years starting in the 2027 financial year, sources familiar with the matter said on November 13, 2026. Japan is considering substantially increasing the payment to roughly 1.5 trillion yen, the same sources said.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that Tokyo is weighing raising its annual contribution to more than 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion) under a new five-year agreement starting in fiscal 2027. Washington is seeking a far steeper increase, asking Tokyo to roughly triple its current annual contribution of 211 billion yen, Asahi reported. The two sides aim to reach a deal by year-end, according to the newspaper.
Japan covers costs including wages for Japanese workers at US bases, utilities and the relocation of military exercises under a bilateral agreement renewed every five years. The contribution has long been known as the sympathy budget. The current agreement expires in March 2027, and foreign and defense officials representing both countries have held talks on a replacement contract since July, Asahi reported.
Tokyo sees an increase as unavoidable but its tentative contribution remains far below Washington's demand, leaving a wide gap between the two sides, according to Asahi. Japan is also considering higher spending under its Facilities Improvement Program, which covers projects including US military housing, as well as higher labor costs for Japanese base workers and funding for underground or reinforced facilities to limit damage if US bases in Japan are attacked.