Japan reportedly to stop short of 3.5% defence spending target despite US pressure
EWJ•EWJ•EWJ•EWJ•Japan is set to avoid explicitly adopting a 3.5% of GDP defence spending target, while considering a significant increase in broader security spending over the next five years. Spending at 3.5% of GDP would exceed 20 trillion yen ($126.52 billion) annually.
Japan is set to stop short of explicitly adopting a 3.5% of GDP defence spending target in a planned revision of its national security strategy later this year, despite repeated US calls for allies to meet that benchmark. The government is instead leaning toward significantly increasing defence-related spending over the next five years, including broader security expenditures.
Japan hopes that demonstrating a commitment to strengthening military capabilities will appease Washington. Defence spending at 3.5% of GDP would exceed 20 trillion yen ($126.52 billion) annually, requiring substantial new funding sources and likely forcing politically sensitive tax increases.
