Japan voices its determination to continue increasing defense spending
(MENAFN) Japan has expressed its determination to continue raising its defense budget during a meeting in Tokyo between Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as reported.
The discussions occurred a day after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with US President Donald Trump, during which Takaichi emphasized that Japan will “fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities” with “unwavering determination and action.”
“Great meeting with Defense Minister Koizumi today. The US-Japan Alliance remains vital to the security of the Asia-Pacific, and I welcome Japan’s recent commitment to increase its defense spending. Together, we can achieve Peace through Strength,” Hegseth wrote on the social media platform X.
Koizumi and Hegseth reviewed plans to update three critical national security documents: the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program. These frameworks were originally approved by the previous administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in December 2022 and represented a significant shift in Japan’s post-war defense stance.
Koizumi also communicated Japan’s objective to raise its defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of this fiscal year, achieving this goal two years earlier than initially planned.
At a joint press briefing following the meeting, Koizumi, who recently assumed the defense portfolio, said: "We exchanged views on the security environment, which has been rapidly worsening, and shared that recognition." Hegseth noted that the US expects Japan to implement its planned budget increase promptly, though he did not request a specific figure during the talks.
This session marked Koizumi’s first official meeting since becoming defense minister after Takaichi was elected prime minister on October 21.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
