The status remains unchanged at this time, and Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero will be notified once the next movement of U.S. Marines out of Okinawa, Japan, is confirmed, according to Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the director of communications at the Office of the Governor.
That’s what the governor’s office relayed regarding the governor’s recent trip to Japan to get an update on the Marine Corps relocation to Guam.
Leon Guerrero left Guam on Aug. 18 and returned on Aug. 21. During that trip, she met with Okinawan Gov. Denny Tamaki and Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa.
The U.S. and Japan agreed in 2012 to move thousands of Marines out of Okinawa, including about 5,000 to Guam. This movement initiated in December 2024, when a detachment of about 100 logistics support Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force began relocating from Okinawa to Guam.
Currently, there are still about 100 Marines on Guam.
Vera Topasna, the executive director of the Community Defense Liaison Office, said Tuesday that there is no firm date on when the next batch of Marines will arrive, and logistics and operational assignments are still being worked out.
The Guam Daily Post had also asked about what other information or issues were possibly discussed during the governor’s trip late last month, but this has been the only provided information so far.
The ongoing buildup to host the relocation has been a controversial topic, involving issues that include environmental, cultural and socio-economic concerns.
The recent budget debate over reducing the Business Privilege Tax on Guam included discussion about how this would impact local tax revenues from military projects, considering that a significant amount of federal dollars has gone into and continues to support the military buildup.
Before passing the budget bill, lawmakers added an amendment that maintains the current 5% BPT for any military contract exceeding $10 million. The budget bill remains at the governor’s desk for consideration.
AloJapan.com