Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the critical importance of defense industry cooperation between Japan, the United States, and like-minded nations for enhancing deterrence and response capabilities. He plans to promote security collaboration in areas such as defense equipment and technology, aiming to strengthen deterrence through multi-layered networks of cooperation.
During his upcoming trip to the United States, Kishida will engage in discussions with President Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with a focus on deepening security and defense ties, expanding arms co-development, and highlighting the strong Japan-U.S. alliance across various sectors. In line with Japan's more expansive national security strategy in 2022, Kishida's government has made significant strides in accelerating the country's military capabilities, including doubling defense spending and increasing efforts to counter regional security threats.
Japan's recent actions include the acquisition of U.S. Tomahawk missiles, relaxation of weapon export guidelines, participation in arms co-development projects with other countries, and the enhancement of interoperability with U.S. forces through unified command discussions and support for American warships in the Western Pacific. Heightened defense cooperation with the United States and the Philippines is also a key focus amid rising tensions with China in the region.