Japan plans to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP

Japan is considering setting a new medium-term defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP in line with plans by NATO and other U.S. allies.

According to Bloomberg, representatives of the Japanese Defense Ministry have already announced their readiness to sharply increase defense spending in meetings with their American counterparts.

One scenario under consideration is to meet South Korea's commitment to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product over 10 years. According to one of the sources, a lower target, for example, 3 percent, is possible.

Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman Kimihito Aguin denied that Japan had expressed its intention to sharply increase spending to 3.5% of GDP due to the United States.

“To build up Japan's defense is what we are doing with our own independent judgment, with the fundamental principle that we must defend our country ourselves. The content of our defense capabilities is important, he said.

Until 2022, Japan had an unofficial limit on defense spending of about 1% of GDP, a testament to how quickly views on defense have changed in recent years. A new five-year defense spending plan is expected to be adopted later this year.