U.S. and Japanese Defense Ministers Hold First Meeting... Discuss Japan's Defense Budget Increase

"Importance of Deterring China...
Cooperation with South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines"

During his tour of Asia, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held a face-to-face meeting in Tokyo on the 29th, reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, according to reports from Kyodo News and NHK.

This was the first in-person meeting between Minister Koizumi, who took office on the 21st with the launch of the Takaichi Cabinet, and Secretary Hegseth. The meeting followed the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo the previous day.

() . AP Yonhap News

After the meeting, Minister Koizumi told reporters that he had explained the Takaichi Cabinet’s policy of increasing the defense budget and strengthening defense capabilities. He stated, “During the meeting, I conveyed our commitment to proactively continue increasing the defense budget,” and added, “By further strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities, we will enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance.”

Previously, on the 24th, Prime Minister Takaichi announced in a parliamentary address that the timeline for raising Japan’s defense spending to 2% of GDP would be moved up by two years, from the original target of fiscal year 2027 (April 2027-March 2028) to fiscal year 2025. She also pledged to expedite the revision of the three key security documents outlining the guidelines for strengthening defense capabilities.

Secretary Hegseth expressed his expectation for the “swift implementation” of Japan’s defense budget increase, though he did not specify a particular amount. He also emphasized that the U.S.-Japan alliance is extremely important for deterring China.

In addition, the two defense ministers agreed to improve command and control systems and to strengthen cooperation in defense equipment and technology. They also shared a commitment to advancing cooperation with countries such as South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines.

At the U.S.-Japan summit held the previous day, Prime Minister Takaichi also conveyed to President Trump Japan’s policy of increasing the defense budget and strengthening defense capabilities. It was reported that there was no discussion of specific figures regarding the defense budget between the two leaders. However, it is known that the United States has unofficially requested Japan to raise its defense spending to as much as 3.5% of GDP.