Japan pulls out of talks with Trump administration after ‘being ordered to spend more on defence’
Independent1 day
Report: Japan Scraps 2+2 Security Talks With US
Above: Pete Hegseth (L) and Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on March 30, 2025. Image copyright: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump's demand for higher defense spending from Japan makes perfect sense, given the current state of international affairs. Japan has been free-riding on American security guarantees for decades while reaping substantial benefits from trade with the U.S. It's time for wealthy allies to pay their fair share, rather than expecting American taxpayers to subsidize their defense indefinitely.
Anti-Trump narrative
The Trump administration's erratic and unrealistic demands are pushing Japan away at the worst possible time. Canceling this crucial alliance meeting shows how badly Trump is mishandling relationships with key partners when America needs all the help it can get against China. This bullying approach risks undermining the very alliance that maintains the region's stability.