Wednesday morning in Tokyo, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates met with Japan's newly elected Premier Yukio Hatoyama and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, to discuss the issue of a US Marine base on Okinawa.
Gates said the Obama administration expected Japan's new government to stick with existing agreements, amid debate over whether to shutter a US military air field on Okinawa.
On the controversy concerning the Futenma facility, Gates said that the Obama administration would frown on any action by Tokyo to block a new runway at another base on Okinawa when Futenma is closed.
Robert Gates the United States Defence Secretary said "Without the Futenma realignment, the Futenma facility, there will be no relocation to Guam, and without relocation to Guam there will be no consolidation of forces and return of land in Okinawa."
Japanese officials have signalled that they expect flexibility from the US.
Some members of Hatoyama's government want all remaining US troops moved out of Japan altogether.
US officials hope to resolve the issue by the time President Barack Obama arrives in Japan early next month.
Robert Gates Meets with Premier Hatoyama
Wednesday morning in Tokyo, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates met with Japan's newly elected Premier Yukio Hatoyama and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, to discuss the issue of a US Marine base on Okinawa.