The United States Tuesday welcomed a shift by Japan to expand the role of its military by reinterpreting the terms of the nation’s U.S.-imposed constitution

The United States Tuesday welcomed a shift by Japan to expand the role of its military by reinterpreting the terms of the nation's U.S.-imposed constitution.

"We have followed with interest the extensive discussion within Japan on the issue of exercising its right under the U.N. Charter to collective self-defense," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

"We welcome the government of Japan's new policy regarding collective self-defense and related security matters."

After months of political horse-trading and browbeating of opponents, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his cabinet had formally endorsed a reinterpretation of rules that have banned the use of armed force except in very narrowly-defined circumstances.