US Withdrawing 9,000 Marines from Okinawa

The United States and Japan have agreed upon a deal that would see 9,000 US Marines withdraw from Okinawa. The move will cut the US presence, on Okinawa, almost in half.

Around 5,000 of the troops will be re stationed on Guam. About 2,700 will be sent to Hawaii. The rest will be spread out amongst other US bases around the Pacific.

US Marines on Okinawa have been the cause of several diplomatic incidents over the years. This move is expected to help to ease tensions between the local populace and the troops.

Okinawa has been occupied by the US since near the end of WWII, when US forces captured it from Japan. Japan was given the islands back in 1979, but the troops remained to fend off the Communist threat.

The troop relocation will cost an estimated $8.6 billion. Japan has agreed to pay for $3.1 billion of that. As Marines leave the island, the land they vacate will be turned over to the Japanese government.