U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday vowed to cooperate with Japanese authorities investigating allegations that a U.S. Marine murdered a woman in Okinawa, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State.
Rubio spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in a phone call following the death of a local woman in a hotel. During the conversation, Rubio expressed sincere condolences over the death of the Japanese national and reaffirmed the United States' determination to communicate and fully cooperate with the Government of Japan and local authorities.
The case has sparked protests in Japan and prompted responses from the U.S. military, which implemented a curfew and mandatory training in standards and discipline. Demonstrators gathered outside the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on October 5 to protest the killing.
The incident has renewed tensions over the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, a strategically important location that hosts significant American military installations.