米国防長官が訪日へ　硫黄島慰霊式に出席

　【ワシントン時事】米国防総省は２１日、ヘグセス国防長官が来週初めから日本やフィリピンなどへの訪問を開始すると発表した。太平洋戦争の激戦地だった東京・小笠原諸島の硫黄島で、戦後８０年の日米合同慰霊式に出席する。
　ヘグセス氏の就任以来、訪日は初めて。中谷元防衛相らとの会談も予定している。訪日に先立ち、ハワイ州、米領グアム、フィリピンも訪れる。
　パーネル報道官は「自由で開かれたインド太平洋という共通のビジョンの実現に向け、同盟の強化に取り組む」と訪問目的を説明した。（2025/03/22-12:15）

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will depart early next week for a trip to Japan and other destinations, the Defense Department said Friday.
   Hegseth will visit the Pacific island of Iwojima, part of Tokyo, to participate in a Japan-U.S. joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Iwojima, officially called Ioto in Japan, was a fierce battlefield in the Pacific War.
   This is his first visit to Japan since taking office in January. He also plans to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and other officials. Prior to his visit to Japan, Hegseth will visit Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines.
   "These engagements will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said of the trip in a statement.
   CNN and other media organizations have reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering dropping a plan to strengthen U.S. forces in Japan as it seeks to cut costs.