The United States Rejects Japan's Request, Saying Three Times of Silence is Difficult

[Financial News] The Japanese government, fearing negative effects on the ruling party in the House of Councillors (Upper House) election on the 20th of this month, repeatedly requested the United States "not to mention the increase in defense costs (defense budget) in bilateral meetings before the election." In response, the United States expressed reluctance, saying that three consecutive silences would be difficult.
According to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on the 13th, the Japanese government promised the United States, after the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration, that it would make efforts to increase its own defense budget, and has been mindful to prevent the United States from raising the issue of defense costs.
In fact, the United States did not mention specific figures regarding Japan's defense budget increase goals in the US-Japan defense ministers' meetings held in March and May.
In early June, a Japanese government official conveyed to a US government official, considering the US-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministers' (2+2) meeting scheduled to be held in Washington DC on the 1st of this month, "It would be better not to mention the increase in defense costs ahead of the July House of Councillors election."
However, a US government official replied, "It may be impossible to refrain from mentioning it three times in a row," and "If nothing more is said about the defense budget, the position of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth within the administration may become precarious."
Regarding this, the Asahi Shimbun reported, "The US informally conveyed to Japan that Japan's defense budget increase goal was 3.5% of GDP."
The Asahi Shimbun also noted, "While the direction of increasing Japan's defense budget to more than 2% of GDP was virtually set during the Shigeru Ishiba administration, the challenge is whether there is financial capacity to bear such a large defense budget."
The newspaper added, "To achieve the US-demanded defense budget level of 3.5% of GDP, approximately 21 trillion yen (about 196 trillion won) would be needed based on the 2024 nominal GDP, and it would be difficult to realize without tax increases and cuts in social security resources."
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chae-wan Reporter