Finalization of Basic Plan Concerning the Replacement Facility for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

Answer:   The United States warmly welcomes the July 29 agreement by the Japanese Government, Okinawa Prefectural Government, and Nago City on a Basic Plan for replacing Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, a United States military base in Okinawa, Japan, with a new facility near Nago City, Okinawa. Conclusion of this Basic Plan allows both sides to continue progress on planning for and constructing the new facility. Relocating MCAS Futenma is one of the prime elements of the 1996 Final Report of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), which contained recommendations for reducing the impact of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. Under the SACO plan, the Japanese Government undertook to provide a replacement facility for the MCAS Futenma that meets our operation requirements. Over half of the Report’s recommendations have been implemented and we look forward to implementing the remainder.

With the finalization of the Basic Plan, our Japanese allies have taken an important step in making the relocation of MCAS Futenma a reality. The United States looks forward to continued close cooperation with the Japanese Government and Okinawan and local authorities as the relocation process continues.