The U.S. is pushing Japan to nearly double its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, a move that’s reportedly causing friction between the two allies. According to Kyodo News, Japan may cancel a high-profile security meeting with Washington over the demand—a potential diplomatic snub during a critical time for Asia-Pacific stability. 💬
Sources say the request came from U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, who previously advocated for Japan to hit a 3% GDP target. Tokyo had already pledged to reach 2% by 2027, marking a historic shift for a nation with a pacifist constitution since WWII. But with former President Trump calling the U.S.-Japan security treaty "one-sided," pressure is mounting for Japan to foot more of the bill for American troops stationed there. 🛡️
The canceled "two-plus-two" talks—which would’ve been the first since PM Shigeru Ishiba and Trump took office—highlight growing tensions. Analysts say the move risks destabilizing cooperation amid rising regional security challenges, from North Korea’s missile tests to China’s military expansion. 🌊
Could this be a "Money Heist"-level plot twist in U.S.-Japan relations? Stay tuned as defense budgets become the new battleground in global diplomacy. 🔥
