A post by @FirstSquawk on X.

The U.S. has demanded more than 3 trillion yen from Japan to cover the cost of stationing American forces in the country over a five-year period, according to Kyodo News. The figure, reported by First Squawk, sets the opening marker for the upcoming negotiations over Tokyo's host-nation support budget, a recurring friction point in the alliance. The demand exceeds the roughly 2 trillion yen Japan has typically budgeted for the five-year host-nation support package, signaling pressure on Tokyo to shoulder a larger share. The talks matter because they will shape Japan's defense spending plans and its fiscal burden at a time when the country is already expanding its military budget. What to watch next is how Japan's government responds to the 3 trillion yen figure and whether the two sides can bridge the gap before the current support arrangement expires.