Japan considers doubling its defense spending to about $500 billion over five years
Agencies2 min read
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The Japanese government and the ruling coalition are considering increasing defense spending to about double its current level over the next five years, in a move aimed at strengthening the country's military capabilities, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
According to the proposal, defense spending during the five years starting in April 2027 could range between 70 and 80 trillion yen, equivalent to about $457 to $508 billion, compared to about 43 trillion yen allocated by the current five-year plan that began in the 2023 fiscal year.
The plan falls within the framework of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approach to strengthening military capabilities, while the final spending volume is still under discussion, coinciding with the government's preparation of the new budget and the review of its three security documents, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
One of the sources said that the new allocations could include the purchase of large numbers of drones, noting that the decline in the value of the yen has increased the cost of importing defense equipment.
The second source suggested that spending would likely settle at between 75 and 80 trillion yen, but questioned whether this amount would be sufficient given the security situation in East Asia, pointing out that the final figure will be subject to discussions between the government and the parties participating in the ruling coalition.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense said it had no comment on this information at this time.
