Japan cancels security talks with US after Washington’s defense spending demands: Report

The development comes just ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Europe, where Trump is expected to pressure European members to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.

Japan has cancelled a planned high-level security meeting with the United States after the Trump administration pushed Tokyo to raise its defense spending significantly, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

The annual “2+2” talks, which were scheduled to take place in Washington on July 1, were expected to bring together U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with their Japanese counterparts. However, according to FT, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after Washington demanded that Japan boost its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, up from an earlier request of 3 percent.

Citing unnamed sources, including two officials in Tokyo, FT reported that the demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior official at the U.S. Department of Defense. Colby has also caused friction with other U.S. allies, including Australia, by launching a review of the AUKUS submarine deal, according to the report.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed to FT that Japan had “postponed” the meeting, although they said the decision was taken weeks ago and did not provide a reason. Another non-government source also told the paper that Japan had pulled out, but wasn’t aware of the exact reason.

When asked about the report, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment during a regular press briefing. The Pentagon also had no immediate response. Japan’s embassy in Washington did not reply to requests for comment.

The tensions over defense spending come amid broader trade disagreements between Tokyo and Washington, as President Donald Trump continues to press allies to support his global tariff push.

In March, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba responded to earlier calls for increased defense spending by saying that other nations do not decide Japan’s defense budget. At the time, Colby had used his Senate nomination hearing to call on Japan to invest more in military capabilities to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

The FT also noted that Japan’s domestic political calendar may have influenced the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting. The country is set to hold Upper House elections on July 20, and Prime Minister Ishiba’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to lose seats.

The development comes just ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Europe, where Trump is expected to pressure European members to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.