TSAMTO, June 14. Japan can increase defense spending up to 10 trillion. yen (about $ 74 billion). This, as RIA Novosti reports, was stated by the head of the political council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, ex-candidate for the post of party leader Sanae Takaichi in the program of the Fuji Television Network.
"As for defense spending, the 2% of GDP target is just a signal from the outside to demonstrate Japan's strong intention. And if you put everything you need into the budget, it will reach the level of 10 trillion yen," the politician said.
As the agency notes, until now, no specific figure has ever been called on the issue of increasing defense spending. It was about the need to increase them within five years, and also outlined a contour of 2% of GDP on the model of NATO countries.
Now Japan spends about 5.4 trillion on defense. yen (about $40 billion), which is about 1.24% of GDP.
For the first time, the idea of increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP was outlined in a draft submitted by a group of LDP deputies to Prime Minister Kisida. The project provided for the recognition of the possible preventive destruction of enemy bases – now it has been given a new name "retaliatory strike capability", and its object can be not only missile bases, but also the command functionality of the enemy. In addition, it was proposed to increase military spending to 2% of GDP, as in the countries of the NATO bloc, it was proposed to provide an appropriate budget within five years. After that, the prime minister himself began to raise the issue of increasing the defense budget, without naming specific figures, RIA Novosti reports.
