Japan has no choice but to strengthen its defenses, the foreign minister told the new Trump administration Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Japan will continue to strengthen its defense capabilities in view of the security situation in East Asia, Japan’s foreign minister told his U.S. counterpart at a meeting on Tuesday, his spokesman said.
The return of US President Donald Trump has fueled expectations that Washington could put more pressure on allies to further increase defense spending.
Driven by concerns over China’s growing military power and nuclear-armed North Korea, Tokyo is undertaking a historic defense buildup.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in Washington on Tuesday.
Iwaya told Rubio and Waltz that Japan had no choice but to continue building up its defense capabilities given the situation in East Asia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura said at a news conference in Washington.
