Japan proposes buying US military transport planes to boost self-defence forces

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba informed US President Donald Trump during their meeting on February 7 that Japan is prepared to purchase US military transport planes for its Self-Defence Forces (SDF), government sources revealed on February 26.

The aircraft in question are believed to be C-17s, a model highly regarded for its transport capacity. Ishiba’s proposal comes amid ongoing discussions about defence spending, as Japan seeks to ease pressure from the US to increase its military budget, Caliber.Az reports, referring to Japanese media.

The plan to acquire C-17 aircraft was met with approval from the US side during the meeting, which marked the first summit between Trump and Ishiba since Trump’s inauguration in January.

The talks in Washington were held at a time when the Ishiba administration, which took office in October, was bracing for greater US demands for increased defence expenditure. President Trump has been vocal about urging NATO allies to allocate 5 per cent of their GDPs to defence, putting additional pressure on Japan.

Japan has traditionally capped its defence spending at around 1 per cent of GDP — approximately 5 trillion yen ($33 billion). However, in light of growing security concerns from China and North Korea, Japan has been gradually increasing its defence budget, with plans to reach 2 per cent of GDP by fiscal year 2027.

During a joint press conference after the meeting, Trump praised Japan’s commitment to boosting its defence spending, stating, "We look forward to seeing even more." Despite this, Ishiba denied that Trump specifically demanded a significant increase in Japan’s defence budget.

Ishiba, who previously served as Japan’s defence minister, has long advocated for the procurement of C-17s, citing their superior transport capabilities compared to the domestically produced C-2 aircraft currently used by the SDF. Ishiba has reportedly directed Japan’s Defence Ministry to explore this acquisition further.

However, as Boeing ceased manufacturing C-17s in 2015, Japan would likely need to acquire secondhand planes if the purchase goes through.

This potential purchase of US military transport planes signals Japan’s continued efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities amid evolving regional security dynamics.

By Tamilla Hasanova