The government of Japan on Tuesday announced that it would send a maximum of around 450 billion yen (5 billion dollars) in aid to Afghanistan over the next five years.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) announced the move in line with its aim of changing the nature of the nation's contribution to the Afghan war effort. The DPJ will end Japan's refueling mission in support of the U.S. military in the Indian Ocean next year.
The announcement came days before U.S. President Barack Obama visits Japan at a time when relations between the two countries are strained as the DPJ looks to change the nature of the relationship between the two allies.
Obama will arrive on Friday amid tension between the nations as the DPJ considers whether to amend the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the government of the Liberal Democratic Party and the U.S. administration of George W. Bush. That agreement will allow U.S. troops to remain in
Okinawa, and is unpopular among the Japanese public.