Rubio says Japan defense spending hike less about money, more about capabilities

Japan Times

3 days ago

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted Friday that while Washington is asking Japan to boost its defense spending, the thinking behind the push is likely to align with the views of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Asked during a briefing in Malaysia for his thoughts on reports that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is pressuring Japan to ramp up its defense budget to as much as 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP), Rubio refuted the characterization of this as a 'demand.'
'We've encouraged them to invest in certain capabilities,' he said after the conclusion of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings. 'It's less to do with the amount of money and more to do about certain things they can do.'
These comments echoed the view of Ishiba, who has repeatedly said that Japan will not be told how much to spend, and that what is most important is the substance of strengthened defense capabilities — not arbitrary figures.
'At the end of the day, we are in agreement with Japan on collective self-defense, on the ability to come to each other's aid in a time of conflict or in a time of danger,' Rubio said. 'We understand that there are dynamics, constitutional and legal, that limit their ability to invest in certain things versus other things, but we have a very close relationship with Japan, very close."
Last month, the Pentagon told The Japan Times that it had made the 5% of GDP on defense a 'global standard' for Japan and other U.S. allies, in the first official confirmation that Washington is asking Tokyo to pump up its defense budget even further.
Japan has denied that a specific figure has ever been broached, but Trump in April called the two countries' alliance 'one-sided' — remarks that echoed views from his first term, when he demanded Tokyo cough up more cash or risk the removal of U.S. troops.
Ostensibly pacifist Japan has in recent years undertaken a dramatic transformation of its security policy, including a five-year plan to ramp up defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027.
But pouring even more cash into defense coffers would come with significant political costs as the government focuses on domestic economic priorities amid growing uncertainty over how to secure funds.
Japan is currently getting far less bang for its buck as inflation and the yen's diminishing value erode its plans for the country's largest military buildup in postwar history.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in April that defense spending was within striking distance of the 2% target, at 1.8% of GDP.