ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Japan has called off a scheduled high-level security dialogue with the United States following pressure from Washington to significantly increase its defense budget, according to reports by the Financial Times and Nikkei.
Planned 2+2 Meeting Scrapped
The bilateral 2+2 security meeting, originally set for July 1 in Washington, was to include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The cancellation, confirmed by unnamed sources familiar with the situation, comes amid rising diplomatic tensions over defense spending demands.
U.S. officials reportedly requested Japan raise its military spending to *3.5% of GDP, an increase from the previous 3% request. Meanwhile, *Nikkei cited sources indicating the Trump administration is urging its Asian allies—including Japan—to target *5% of GDP* for defense.
Official Silence and Behind-the-Scenes Tension
While a U.S. official told Reuters the talks were “postponed,” no formal reason was provided. Japan’s embassy in Washington and key government offices in Tokyo have not issued any public statements regarding the cancellation.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on the Financial Times report, and the Pentagon did not respond to media queries.
The push for greater Japanese defense spending is attributed to *Elbridge Colby*, the third-ranking Pentagon official, who has also stirred debate in Australia by initiating a review of its nuclear submarine project.
Political and Strategic Context
In March, Japanese Prime Minister *Shigeru Ishiba* responded to earlier calls for increased military expenditure by stating, “Other nations do not decide Japan’s defense budget.” The cancellation also comes ahead of Japan’s *July 20 upper house elections*, a key political test for Ishiba’s minority coalition.
The canceled meeting coincides with heightened geopolitical friction, as President *Donald Trump* is also expected to press NATO allies to raise their defense budgets to *5% of GDP* at an upcoming alliance summit.
Japan and the United States have also been at odds in recent trade negotiations amid Washington’s broader tariff agenda.
