The United States says it is satisfied with Japan’s contribution to the alliance between the two countries. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this during his last visit to Japan as head of the Defense Department.

Carter arrived in Japan on Monday, and is expected to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe along with U.S. and Japanese troops. He is also due to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Tomomi Inada.

According to the Pentagon, Japan hosts nearly 50,000 U.S. troops and pays about U.S.$1.6 billion annually toward the cost of them being stationed.