US to move thousands of marines off Okinawa Washington has agreed to move thousands of US marines off Japan's southern island of Okinawa, despite lack of progress on a controversial base relocation deal that has been an irritant in ties between the Pacific allies. The decision to "de-link" the planned relocation of the island's Futenma marine air base from steps to reduce the number of troops on Okinawa marks an effort to defuse an issue that has in recent years clouded an alliance seen as a cornerstone of regional stability. US officials had previously insisted that troop relocations and the related return of land to Okinawa were conditional on progress on the long-stalled move of the Futenma base. However, Koichiro Gemba, Japan's foreign minister, said the two sides had now agreed to "adjust" the plan to allow early progress on reducing the number of marines stationed on Okinawa. "By moving on those issues, we hope to win confidence and trust from people in Okinawa," Mr Gemba said. Japan's ruling Democratic party has promised to reduce the burden of hosting US forces borne by Okinawa, which is home to 75 per cent of the US military facilities based in Japanese territory. Both Tokyo and Washington are keen to move the Futenma base, which is located in the middle of a busy Okinawa city, particularly since a helicopter from the base crashed into a nearby university in 2004. But an attempt three years ago by then-prime minister Yukio Hatoyama to find a way to shift the Futenma base off Okinawa altogether collapsed in the face of cabinet divisions and US opposition. After months of frantic efforts to find a credible alternative site, the hapless Mr Hatoyama eventually agreed to proceed with a move to Henoko Bay on Okinawa as planned. Mr Gemba insisted that Japan remained fully committed to the relocation plan, despite the decision to de-link progress on it from other action. However, many analysts are deeply sceptical about the DPJ government's ability or willingness to override fierce opposition on Okinawa to the relocation plan. The new compromise is also unlikely to do much to assuage criticism in the US over the wider military "realignment" of which the Futenma base move is part. Three influential US senators last year denounced the realignment as "unrealistic, unworkable and unaffordable." Senators Carl Levin, John McCain and Jim Webb said Washington should consider abandoning the "expensive replacement facility" at Henoko Bay and instead look at putting some of the forces at Futenma to Okinawa's Kadena US air force base. Nearly 10 per cent of Okinawan land is under US control and almost a fifth of the main island is off-limits to ordinary residents. While many Okinawans say the bases are vital to the island's economy, the proximity of much of the population to airbases and live-fire ranges has fuelled complaints about noise, pollution, the danger of accidents and off-base crime. Washington and Tokyo have said in the past that the Futenma move would lead to the transfer of 8,000 of 18,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam. Mr Gemba on Wednesday declined to give details of the number of troops he expected to be moved under the revised plan, but said it the final number stationed on Okinawa was still expected to be about 10,000.