Japan's government and ruling coalition are considering a 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen defense buildup over five years, Reuters reported in The Straits Times on Nov. 2, citing two people familiar with the matter. The deliberations are part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to strengthen Japan's military capabilities.
If adopted, the buildup would cover the five years beginning in April 2027. Its proposed total would be about 1.8 times the roughly 43 trillion yen allocated under the current five-year plan, which began in fiscal 2023. Reuters reported that the current buildup program was formulated at the end of 2022, with a focus on long-range missiles for counterstrike capabilities, ammunition and spare parts.
One person familiar with the matter told Reuters the new spending is expected to fund purchases including large numbers of drones. That person also attributed higher defense equipment procurement costs to a weaker yen. Another person said the final amount could fall in the mid-to-late 70 trillion yen range, but remained subject to debate between the government and coalition partners. The figure could change as Japan prepares its budget and revises three security-related documents. Japan's defense ministry had no comment at the time of the report.
