- WIADOMOŚCI
Japan is increasing defence spending
Japan’s defence budget for fiscal year 2026 will amount to approximately 10.6 trillion yen ($66.5 billion), representing 1.9 percent of the country’s 2022 GDP. Why is Tokyo rearming, and why does it use the 2022 GDP as a reference point?
Japan aims to increase its defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027. As explained by Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi, “It is appropriate to compare annual defence expenditures using the gross domestic product from fiscal year 2022 as a reference point, since that year served as the baseline when the current security documents were developed.” The total amount includes roughly 9 trillion yen allocated to the Ministry of Defence and about 1.6 trillion yen for public infrastructure and the Coast Guard.
See also
Since 2023, Tokyo has been moving away from its long-standing practice of keeping military expenditures at around 1 percent of GDP. This shift is a response to rising regional tensions stemming from China’s actions (claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea) and North Korea’s regular weapons tests. China’s behavior is also influenced by the foreign policy of US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged his allies to increase their defense spending.
