U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in marking the 80th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima on March 29.
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday attended a war memorial service on Iwoto Island in the Pacific as he kicked off his first official visit to Japan, showcasing an alliance between two countries that were enemies 80 years ago.
Hegseth is on his first trip to Asia, and the visit is part of U.S. efforts to work toward "a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to the Defense Department.