Japan Approves Record $55 Billion Defense Budget for 2025

The budget focuses on strengthening missile defense, expanding military capabilities, and addressing regional threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.

• The Japanese Cabinet has approved an 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget for fiscal year 2025, the largest in the country's history.
• Key allocations include $6 billion for long-range missile systems, such as U.S.-made Tomahawks, and $3.37 billion for missile interceptors and radar systems in Okinawa.
• Japan plans to double its annual defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, aligning with NATO standards and making it the world's third-largest military spender after the U.S. and China.
• The budget also invests in modernizing Japan's defense industry, including $2 billion for new compact destroyers and joint projects with allies like Australia, Britain, and Italy.
• To address declining recruitment due to an aging population, the plan includes improved salaries, career support, and increased focus on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence.

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