Military Base For Japanese Forces Opens In Djibouti

The Japanese military has established a base in Djibouti, the first such permanent Japanese base since World War II, reports the Asahi Shimbun.

The US$58 million base, activated on June 1, will be used to support Japanese counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

The facility is expected to host P-3C patrol aircraft and at least 150 support personnel from the Japanese ground and maritime self-defense forces.

Japanese forces previously used...