Two Years Ahead of Schedule: Japan to Increase Defense Spending Targets

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced in her post-election speech that defense spending would be increased to 2% of GDP — two years ahead of schedule.

This was reported by the Financial Times.

These plans were announced on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan, as he has repeatedly stressed the need to increase defense spending in the country.

The increase in spending is primarily due to the complex geopolitical situation in the region, where Japan has virtually no close allies capable of supporting it in its confrontation with China. Moreover, unlike NATO countries, which are rearming in accordance with the tasks within the Alliance, Japan is forming full-fledged and independent forces in the region.

At the same time, increasing the defense budget to 2% is an extremely important step, given the forecasts of some intelligence agencies that China may invade Taiwan as early as 2027. In this case, Japan will be one of the first countries to resist, so its troops must be equipped with modern systems, including missile defense and anti-ship complexes.

It is worth noting that against the backdrop of growing tensions with China, the country is also considering the possibility of building or purchasing nuclear submarines to counter the Chinese fleet, which is currently becoming a world leader in terms of the number of surface and submarine vessels.

The Japan Ministry of Defense plans to begin a thorough study of this issue as part of a new five-year development plan to be formulated in 2027. This may include both the construction of new nuclear submarines and the purchase of ready-made ones.

In addition to a nuclear power plant, such submarines must be equipped with vertical launchers, which will allow them to be used as a strike platform for launching cruise missiles and, potentially, ballistic missiles. Japan’s defense concept is based on the creation of a powerful naval component that will allow the country to at least partially counter China’s influence in the region and maintain a balance of power.