Recalibrating Alliance Contributions: Changing Policy Environment and Military Alliances

Publication Date: June 2005

Publisher: Pardee Rand Graduate School

Author(s): Tatsuro Yoda

Research Area: Government

Type: Report

Coverage: Japan

Abstract:

According to the U.S. National Security Strategy, the United States needs to “strengthen alliances to defeat global terrorism and work to prevent attacks against us and our friends.” This dissertation develops an analytic framework to explore ways to encourage contributions from allies that are beneficial to the United States with specific reference to Japan’s Host Nation Support program (HNS) for the U.S. Forces in Japan, The author examines Japan’s alliance contributions, the background environment of the U.S.-Japan alliance during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and key causes for the change in Japan’s alliance contributions. He analyzes the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance over the next 10-20 years, the plausible direction of changes in Japan’s alliance contributions and how the U.S. can influence that direction. Finally, he examines the short-term future of the alliance, focusing on the next Special Measures Agreement for the HNS in 2006, Japan’s stance toward that agreement, and effective U.S. negotiating tactics.