TOKYO: Japan signed a deal with its ally the United States on Thursday to buy 400 long-range Tomahawk missiles, as it ramps up its military capacity to counter regional security threats.
Faced with growing Chinese military clout and a nuclear-armed North Korea, the Japanese government plans to double its defence spending to the Nato standard of two per cent of GDP by 2027.
A sale of up to $2.35 billion for two types of Tomahawks, which have a 1,600-kilometre (995-mile) range, was approved by Washington in November.
“The conclusion of this signing starts the procurement of the Tomahawk missiles,” a defence official told reporters on Thursday after the deal was signed in Tokyo.
“Through sound implementation of the (defence) budget, we will extensively strengthen our defence capacity,” he added.
Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024
