US Defence Secretary Hegseth meets Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi as Japan accelerates defence spending increase amid regional security concerns.
TOKYO: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will meet Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo on Wednesday as Japan strengthens its defence capabilities and alliance with the United States.
The meeting follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s discussion with visiting US President Donald Trump about bolstering Japan’s defence and achieving a new golden age for the alliance.
Japan currently hosts the largest overseas concentration of US military forces including an aircraft carrier and dozens of fighter jets.
Prime Minister Takaichi announced plans to increase Japan’s defence spending to 2% of GDP by March 2026 during her recent policy speech.
This acceleration moves the defence spending target two years earlier than originally planned.
The planned 2% defence spending level remains below NATO’s new 5% of GDP target for 2035.
Japan considers its current security environment the most severe since World War Two due to regional instability.
Regional security concerns include China’s military expansion and North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.
Koizumi previously contested the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election but lost to Takaichi.
Takaichi subsequently became Japan’s first female prime minister following her party leadership victory.
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