Japan to revise national security strategy this year: Defense chief tells Munich Security Conference

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told the Munich Security Conference on Friday that Tokyo will revise its national security strategy in 2026.

Koizumi said that the “security of the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable,” noting that Japan does not view the Ukraine war as a “distant European problem.”

“Countries surrounding Japan continue opaque military build-up, and the regional military balance has been greatly and rapidly evolving in the East and the South China Seas,” he said.

“Attempts to change the status quo by force persist in the Western and the Southern Pacific. Provocative military activities are intensifying,” he said.

“Japan itself will become stronger. We are committed to sustaining our efforts to fundamentally reinforce our defense capabilities and increase our defense spending.”

“With last year's supplementary budget, we achieved a level of defense spending at 2% of GDP ahead of the schedule, original schedule. Immediately after taking office last October, Prime Minister Takaichi directed an accelerated revision of Japan's national security strategy. Under her leadership, we will revise it within this year,” he added.

Mentioning that it is “an era of uncertainty where anything can happen,” he called for ensuring “peace and stability in the region.” He said Tokyo “will further strengthen the Japan-US alliance.”

“Let me be clear, Japan keeps the door to dialogue open at all times, even when fundamental differences in stance exist, indeed, precisely because of these differences, we maintain close communication and mutual exchanges, together with like-minded partners, Japan will fulfill its responsibilities to maintain an international order free from aggression,” he added.

Takaichi announced plans to raise defense spending and move toward revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, and has also called for reviews of the country’s three core security documents: the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program.