In Brief: Japan’s Defense Posture

Recent years have seen Japan reevaluate its defense posture and a subsequent strategic repositioning of the United States in Japan. In 2022, the Government of Japan allocated approximately 43 trillion yen (about 30 billion dollars) to the strengthening of Japan’s defense capabilities. On July 28, 2024, Japan hosted the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, which focused on accelerating the alliance’s integration. We asked four experts to look at the U.S. strategic repositioning in Japan, Japan’s expansion of defense capabilities, and the implications of these developments. Read their answers below. Zack Cooper Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Partner, Armitage International Co-Host, Net Assessment Leaders in