AFP - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates travels to Japan next week to hold talks with a new government that has signalled a more independent stance towards Washington.

The Pentagon said Wednesday that Gates will take up the sensitive issue of US forces in Okinawa when he meets Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has said he wants a "more equal" relationship with the United States.

Gates also was expected to discuss Japan's decision to end its Indian Ocean naval refuelling mission that supports the NATO-led military campaign in Afghanistan, press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.

The defense secretary's visit, the first by a US cabinet member since September elections, will provide a chance to "get-acquainted" with the new leadership and discuss the "ongoing transformation of the alliance," Morrell said.

The visit would offer Gates a chance to stress the importance of an agreement struck with previous Japanese governments on the future of a controversial US Marine base in Okinawa, he said.

Hatoyama's center-left government has called for a review of the agreement but Morrell suggested the administration was not ready to reopen negotiations.

"We are obviously committed to carrying them out as agreed upon," he said.

Hatoyama has said he wants a review of the 2006 accord with Washington under which the current base would be closed, thousands of Marines moved to Guam, and others moved to a new US base to be built by 2014 in an Okinawa coastal area.

The US defense chief's trip to Japan, in advance of a scheduled November 12-13 visit by President Barack Obama, comes amid a renewed debate in Japan about where to move the controversial US Marine Corps Futenma Air Base -- now located in a densely populated urban area of Okinawa. Related article: Okinawa governor on US bases

The Futenma base on the island, which hosts more than half of the 47,000 American troops stationed in Japan, has long angered residents because of aircraft noise and frictions between the community and US service members.

"We think these are very complicated agreements that are beneficial to both of our countries, and to our long-term relationship, and to the security situation in the region," Morrell said, referring to the Futenma base deal.

The US administration wanted to "work with the new government to make sure they have all the information they need to better understand what has been agreed to by previous governments," he added.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima on Tuesday meanwhile submitted a position paper to Hatoyama's government saying US troops could stay on the island as long as the base was moved away from its current urban setting.

On Afghanistan, having announced Japan would scrap a refueling operation in support of the US-led mission, Hatoyama has proposed new, non-military support for Kabul, such as job training for former Taliban soldiers, as a possible alternative.

The Indian Ocean mission -- which began in December 2001 and was periodically renewed by Japan's previous, conservative government -- provides the US-led coalition with fuel and other logistical support.

After Japan, Gates was scheduled to visit Seoul, where he will seek to "reinforce America's commitment" to the US alliance with South Korea in the face of threats from North Korea, Morrell said.

Gates then will proceed to Slovakia for a NATO meeting of defense ministers in Bratislava, which comes amid a pivotal White House strategy review of the war in Afghanistan.

Before visiting Tokyo and Seoul, Gates will stop in Hawaii to oversee a change in leadership at US Pacific Command on Monday.