Space Force leaders visit Japan to strengthen partnership

Published Feb. 13, 2025
By Sean Castellano
Space Operations Command Public Affairs

TOKYO (AFNS) -- Senior leaders from U.S. Space Force’s Space Operations Command visited Japan Feb. 9-11, to engage with U.S. Space Force personnel and bolster an alliance with one of the U.S. Space Force’s closest allies, the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

While in Japan, Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., SpOC commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Caleb Lloyd, SpOC command senior enlisted leader, met with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group, which was activated in 2022, at Fuchu Air Base. During this engagement, Miller spoke to the continuously growing strength of the partnership between the two organizations.

“I believe what you see from the United States is a recognition that throughout our history, we don’t go it alone when deterring conflict. We have found willing and abiding partnerships as fundamental to our ability to deter and ultimately, if necessary, defeat threats and deal with any crises that evolves,” Miller said. “The U.S. and Japan have been allies for decades and are going to continue to build on this strong partnership. I believe our multilateral partnerships in and across the Indo-Pacific region, and globally, have a stabilizing effect to counterbalance threat activity.”

Miller and Lloyd also met with representatives from U.S. Space Forces Japan which was activated in December 2024 at Yokota Air Base. U.S. Space Forces Japan plans, integrates and executes Space Force and space security efforts in close coordination with Japanese counterparts. During their meeting, Lloyd commented on the importance of their mission.

“It’s paramount that this organization ensures seamless integration of space capabilities between the Japanese Self-Defense Force and U.S. Space Force,” he said. “I have no doubt you’ll achieve this by continuing to develop complimentary capabilities together and focusing on building realistic combined training exercises ensuring the highest levels of readiness needed to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. Space Force and Japanese Space Operations Group both participated in exercise Keen Sword in November 2024. Keen Sword is an annually held bilateral exercise designed by Japan to increase readiness and interoperability. This edition of Keen Sword was the largest iteration of the exercise since its inception in 1986.

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., commander of U.S. Space Operations Command (SpOC), speaks with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group at Fuchu Air Base, Japan, Feb. 10, 2025. — U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., commander of U.S. Space Operations Command, speaks with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group at Fuchu Air Base, Japan, Feb. 10, 2025. Miller and the SpOC team visited Japan Feb 9 to 11, 2025 to engage with U.S. Space Force personnel operating in Japan and to bolster an alliance with one of the U.S. Space Force’s closest allies, the Japanese Self Defense Force. (U.S. DoD photo by Capt. Tisha Yates)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., right, commander of U.S. Space Operations Command (SpOC), speaks with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group at Fuchu Air Base, Japan, Feb. 10, 2025. — U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., right, commander of U.S. Space Operations Command, speaks with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group at Fuchu Air Base, Japan, Feb. 10, 2025. Miller and the SpOC team visited Japan Feb 9 to 11, 2025 to engage with U.S. Space Force personnel operating in Japan and to bolster an alliance with one of the U.S. Space Force’s closest allies, the Japanese Self Defense Force. (U.S. DoD photo by Capt. Tisha Yates)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., right, commander of U.S. Space Operations Command (SpOC), poses for a photo with a member of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group at Fuchu Air Base, Japan, Feb. 10, 2025. Miller and the SpOC team visited Japan Feb. 9-11, 2025 to engage with U.S. Space Force personnel operating in Japan and to bolster an alliance with one of the U.S. Space Force’s closest allies, the Japanese Self Defense Force. (U.S. DoD photo by Capt. Tisha Yates)

As Miller and Lloyd concluded their visit to Japan with a trip to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Miller discussed the joint statement released after U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7. In this meeting, Trump and Shigeru discussed cooperation in the space domain.

“What I heard over the last few days in the commitment from the president and the prime minister is that this relationship is broad and enduring, and that the partnership in many areas is going to be deepened,” Miller said. “The way we demonstrate our resolve is a shared commitment in both the development of capability, the training and exercising of that capability, and also in the strengthening of the coordination and synchronization of our military forces, as well as our diplomatic, informational, and economic instruments of national power.”

Miller and Lloyd also visited South Korea while in the region, where they discussed trilateral partnership amongst Japan, the U.S., and RoK.

U.S. Space Operations Command is committed to protecting America and its allies in, from, and to space, now and into the future.