US and Japan discuss joint defense efforts for Ukrainian military support.

Japan and the United States are discussing about potentially collaborating on military equipment to supply Ukraine with additional ammunition and to enhance Japan's capability to maintain and repair U.S. naval ships and fighter aircraft, according to reports by Ukrinform echoing Bloomberg and Japanese news outlets.
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Japanese-made Patriot PAC-3 missiles can intercept targets within a range of 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) (Picture source: US DoD)

In anticipation of the April 10 summit in Washington, where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden will convene, both nations are seeking to finalize agreements, as reported by the Yomiuri newspaper based on insider information.

Amid these discussions, Japan, a nation with a peace-oriented constitution, has already extended non-lethal assistance and financial support to Ukraine, avoiding direct arms provision. However, a relaxation of Japan's military export restrictions could facilitate weapon donations from the U.S. and European countries to Ukraine, both immediately and by broadening Japan's arms export capabilities over time.

In December 2023, Japan's government announced its decision to permit the re-export of domestically produced, licensed weapons back to their origin countries, including the sale of Patriot missiles to its defense ally, thereby augmenting the pool of interceptors at the U.S.'s disposal and enhancing support for Ukraine's aerial defense systems.

The upcoming talks between Kishida and Biden are expected to further solidify bilateral ties and explore avenues to reinforce the defense equipment supply chain, especially in light of China's escalating regional assertiveness.

Moreover, Tokyo and Washington are contemplating the expansion of an existing deal to allow Japanese firms to undertake regular maintenance and repair tasks on U.S. military assets, a topic slated for discussion at the summit. This initiative, aimed at shortening turnaround times for the maintenance of U.S. assets and empowering Tokyo to augment its defense manufacturing and technological base, could see the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet and F-35A jet fighters among the beneficiaries.

As per recent updates by Ukrinform, Japan, after revising its arms export policies towards the end of 2023, is gearing up to dispatch Patriot missiles to the United States, marking a significant policy shift in its weapon export stance for the first time in nearly a decade.

Defense News March 2024