Japan aims to increase its defense budget
The government's unprecedented budget for the upcoming fiscal year is announced amid the Defense Ministry's concerns over "increasingly challenging" strategic threats. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Japanese government has unveiled a record draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes a notable increase in defense spending. The Finance Ministry released a budget plan amounting to 115.5 trillion yen, representing a 2.6% rise compared to the current year.
Defense spending makes up 7.5% of the total budget, equating to approximately $55 billion. This marks the 13th consecutive year of growth in defense expenditures, as reported by Kyodo news agency, reflecting a 0.5% rise from the previous fiscal year. The budget document highlights provisions for the mass production of long-range missiles featuring standoff defense capabilities.
As a partner of NATO in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan has expressed its intention to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027, aligning with the expectations of the US-led military alliance. With Japan’s GDP for 2023 estimated at $4.213 trillion, this would entail military spending exceeding $84 billion.
On Friday, the Defense Ministry articulated that Japan and its ally the US confront an “increasingly challenging strategic and nuclear threat environment.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office in October and previously held the role of defense minister, has advocated for establishing an Asian version of NATO to address potential threats from China and North Korea. In light of perceived dangers from these nations, Japan and the US have been enhancing their defense collaboration.
Last month, Kyodo reported on Tokyo and Washington's efforts to create a joint contingency plan for a potential military conflict between Taipei and Beijing. The proposed plan involves the US military establishing temporary bases along Japan's southwestern Nansei island chain for deploying missile units, according to sources familiar with the details.
Meanwhile, Russia, which has a maritime border with Japan, has warned that the deployment of US missiles in Japan would pose a threat to Russian security, prompting potential retaliatory measures from Moscow.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
Defense spending makes up 7.5% of the total budget, equating to approximately $55 billion. This marks the 13th consecutive year of growth in defense expenditures, as reported by Kyodo news agency, reflecting a 0.5% rise from the previous fiscal year. The budget document highlights provisions for the mass production of long-range missiles featuring standoff defense capabilities.
As a partner of NATO in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan has expressed its intention to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027, aligning with the expectations of the US-led military alliance. With Japan’s GDP for 2023 estimated at $4.213 trillion, this would entail military spending exceeding $84 billion.
On Friday, the Defense Ministry articulated that Japan and its ally the US confront an “increasingly challenging strategic and nuclear threat environment.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office in October and previously held the role of defense minister, has advocated for establishing an Asian version of NATO to address potential threats from China and North Korea. In light of perceived dangers from these nations, Japan and the US have been enhancing their defense collaboration.
Last month, Kyodo reported on Tokyo and Washington's efforts to create a joint contingency plan for a potential military conflict between Taipei and Beijing. The proposed plan involves the US military establishing temporary bases along Japan's southwestern Nansei island chain for deploying missile units, according to sources familiar with the details.
Meanwhile, Russia, which has a maritime border with Japan, has warned that the deployment of US missiles in Japan would pose a threat to Russian security, prompting potential retaliatory measures from Moscow.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
