Press Releases: Secretary Tillerson and Secretary Mattis To Co-host the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”)

Notice to the Press

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 16, 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis will host Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera for a Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”) meeting on August 17 at 9:45 a.m., at the Department of State.

The meeting will focus on how the United States and Japan can coordinate their response to the evolving regional security environment, and strengthen their bilateral security and defense cooperation. The participants will also review the continued realignment of U.S. armed forces in Japan.

The U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”) is the premier forum for discussing issues related to the U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty, including U.S. bases in Japan and Japanese Host Nation Support, as well as regional security issues.

There will be a pooled camera spray preceding the dialogue and a joint press availability following the dialogue.

Joint Press Availability with Secretary Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera:

Pre-set time for video cameras: 12:45 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance.

Final access time for still photographers and journalists: 1:15 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance.

The press availability will be streamed live on www.state.gov and Facebook.com/usdos. Please follow @StateDept for more information.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver’s license, passport).

For further information, please contact the Press Office at 202-647-2492.