The United States has established numerous military bases on Pacific islands, such as Hawaii, Guam, and Okinawa, to ensure the effective forward deployment of its military forces and to maintain its global influence. The extended presence of U.S. forces on these islands has influenced the political, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects of indigenous island communities. Due to their insularity, these effects can significantly alter or militarize these societies. Alteration occurs in various forms, evident across physical, political, economic, and cultural domains. This chapter examines the interconnected dual processes of militarization in Okinawa since 1945, asserting that these processes are inextricably linked to de-militarization efforts, including local protests and both national and local initiatives aimed at reducing military bases. The de-militarization of Okinawa remains a critical focus for both the U.S. and Japan, shaped by their geopolitical aspirations in East Asia and mutual apprehensions regarding a “rising China.” Currently, the Japanese government advocates for a combined approach of de-militarization and re-militarization to address ongoing local protests, while also acknowledging the necessity of the Japan-U.S. alliance. The geographical manifestation of this duality of militarization is evident in Okinawa. This chapter examines the connections between the processes of de-militarization and re-militarization in Okinawa, portraying the U.S. military’s presence on these ‘peripheralized’ islands as an imperialist endeavor that sustains its hegemonic power while preserving its alliance with the host nation, ultimately undermining the autonomy of the islanders.