Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defence budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen (€48.82mn) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defence with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.
The draft budget for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, beginning in April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year programme to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.
