Japan’s Sanae Takaichi has promised to increase defence spending to hit a target of 2 per cent of GDP two years ahead of schedule, as the newly installed prime minister prepares for a visit to Tokyo next week by US President Donald Trump.
“We need to proactively strengthen the foundation of our defence capabilities,” said Takaichi, who was inaugurated as Japan’s first female prime minister this week, in her first parliamentary speech as national leader on Friday.
Alongside a catalogue of policy pledges that prioritised fighting inflation and boosting growth, Takaichi said her government would aim to reach its target of increasing defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP in the current fiscal year to March.