Takaichi Pledges 2% Defence, Deepens Regional Ties

Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP by March 2026 and ordered reviews of national security and defence plans amid concerns about China, North Korea and Russia. She met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Kuala Lumpur and the two agreed to deepen cooperation on security, economy and energy, welcoming an agreement in principle on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement and pledging coordination ahead of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship. Takaichi has signalled closer alignment with the United States and expanded engagement in multilateral frameworks including the Quad and Japan–U.S.–South Korea cooperation, and is expected to face U.S. pressure to boost defence procurement and purchases of American equipment. Tokyo has said it seeks a peace treaty with Russia, but the Kremlin warned that Japan’s participation in Western sanctions and the unresolved Kuril/Northern Territories dispute have all but frozen dialogue. Takaichi has publicly reassured Seoul that she intends to maintain and build on improved Japan–South Korea ties, but her conservative record on wartime history and past visits to Yasukuni Shrine continue to worry neighbours and South Korean media. She offered few details on how the defence spending increase would be funded.