NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday praised Japan for deciding to double the military budget over the next five years, referring to this as the country’s commitment to security in a volatile world.
Japan’s defense doctrine review, announced in late 2022, makes it “even more” a partner “for peace,” Stoltenberg said.
“I am happy that Japan is planning to reach the NATO benchmark of 2% of GDP. [produto interno bruto] spent on defense,” the official said in a speech at Keio University in Tokyo.
For decades, Japan has limited military spending to around 1% of GDP, but the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved a defense doctrine review in December, which calls for an increase to 2% of GDP by 2027.
“This shows that Japan is serious about international security,” Stoltenberg said.
Growing threats from China and North Korea, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have made the country’s increased military spending more popular with the Japanese population.
Stoltenberg stressed that NATO does not view China as an adversary, but that Beijing’s growing pressure and military ambitions are an issue that must be addressed.
In front of the audience at Keio University, the Norwegian stressed that Beijing is increasingly investing in nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, in a non-transparent manner and abdicating the dialogue on the control of atomic weapons.
The NATO leader also stressed that the Russian-led war in Ukraine is a global issue that has affected the security environment in Asia as well.
Source: TSF
