WASHINGTON - The defense chiefs of Japan and the United States on Thursday agreed that the bilateral alliance is "unshaken" and pledged to reinforce its deterrence capabilities amid concerns in Asia that Washington's focus is shifting from the region.

Following his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon near Washington, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said he was reassured that the administration of President Donald Trump remains committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.