Japan has called off its annual security meeting with the United States following a demand from the Trump administration for increased defense spending. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were scheduled to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Washington on July 1 for the annual "2+2" security talks, named for the two senior ministers from each country involved in the discussions.
Japan has canceled the meeting following a US request for the country to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, up from an earlier request of 3%, as reported by the Financial Times on Friday. This new demand was made by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's third-highest official, according to the report.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the meeting several weeks ago, without providing further details. Additionally, a Japanese foreign ministry official, also requesting anonymity, stated that Japan and the US have not yet discussed these increased spending targets.
On Saturday, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated that U.S. allies in Asia should allocate 5 percent of their GDP to defense. He remarked, “European allies are currently establishing the global benchmark for our alliances, particularly in Asia, with a defense spending target of 5 percent of GDP. In light of China's significant military expansion and North Korea's continuous advancements in nuclear and missile technology, it is only logical for Asia-Pacific allies to quickly increase their defense spending to align with Europe’s standards,” Mr. Parnell told Nikkei.
In March, Mr. Trump stated, “We have a strong relationship with Japan, but our agreement is quite unique: we are obligated to protect them, while they are not required to protect us. That’s how the deal is structured. We are responsible for Japan’s defense. Additionally, they benefit significantly from our economic partnership. I often wonder, who negotiates these deals?”
The agreement Mr. Trump is mentioning is the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, which was signed by Japan and the United States in 1951 and revised in 1960. This treaty obligates the US to defend Japan in the event of an attack. It works in conjunction with Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, which prevents the country from maintaining its own armed forces, thereby providing security guarantees. Notably, the treaty does not require Japan to defend the US in return. Additionally, the agreement allows the US to establish military bases in Japan, serving as crucial strategic positions in the western Pacific.
During a parliamentary session, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated, “It is true that Japan has no obligation to protect the US, but we are required to provide bases for them. I was surprised by President Trump’s comments on this matter.”
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had previously increased Japan's proposed defense spending from a cap of just 1 percent in 2022, a move that sparked controversy among many Japanese citizens who still support pacifism. At the beginning of Mr. Trump’s second term, one of the Japanese government’s main objectives was to persuade him that this represented a significant shift in Japan’s commitment to defense spending.
In March, Mr. Colby, who was then the nominee for U.S. Undersecretary of Defense, stated that Japan should increase its defense budget to 3 percent of its gross domestic product. He remarked during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, “It makes little sense for Japan, which is directly threatened by China and North Korea, to spend only 2 percent.” In response, Mr. Ishiba emphasized that Japan would determine its own defense budget. “Japan decides its defense budget independently,” he told a parliamentary committee meeting. “It should not be influenced by the demands of other nations.”
Japan's decision to cancel the 2+2 meeting comes as the two countries engage in trade discussions aimed at preventing President Trump's proposed "reciprocal" tariffs of 25 percent on Japanese cars and 24 percent on other imports. These tariffs are currently on hold until July 9.
Japan is scheduled to participate in the NATO summit on June 24-25 in The Hague, where President Trump is expected to reiterate his demand for European allies to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
Currently, no NATO member spends 5 percent of GDP on defense, including the United States, which allocates about 3.4 percent. Poland is the closest to this target at 4.1 percent, while the UK ranks ninth among the 32 member states with a defense spending of 2.3 percent.
