Japan considers doubling defense spending to $500 billion
Japan's government is discussing a plan to double military spending to $500 billion, with talks ongoing over the final defense budget.
Japan is contemplating a significant increase in defense spending over the next five years, with the government considering allocating between 70 trillion and 80 trillion yen ($457 billion and $508 billion) for this period. This represents a substantial rise from the current allocation of around 43 trillion yen, which began in fiscal 2023.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration aims to bolster the country's military capabilities, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The proposed increase is about 1.8 times higher than the current spending plan. The new budget could potentially fund large-scale purchases, such as a significant number of drones.
A weaker Japanese yen has contributed to the higher cost of defense equipment procurement. The final figure is still subject to debate between the government and coalition partners, with one source suggesting it could land in the mid-to-late 70 trillion yen range. Japan's defense ministry has not commented on the matter.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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