TOKYO - Japan plans to provide defense equipment and other supplies to the armed forces of at least 12 like-minded countries under its Official Security Assistance program in fiscal 2026, up from eight countries the previous year, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The military of Kenya, which sits on the western Indian Ocean, is expected to be a first-time recipient under the program, with the Japanese government seeking to strengthen maritime security cooperation, particularly in surveillance and monitoring, amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan selects recipient countries each fiscal year. The government has allocated about 18.1 billion yen ($114 million) for the security assistance program in the year ending March 2027, more than double the roughly 8 billion yen set aside for fiscal 2025.
In July, the Foreign Ministry decided to provide Cambodia's military with communications equipment and patrol boats. Japan also plans to work with Australia to help Fiji build military facilities.
Other countries being considered for assistance include the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, as well as Vietnam, East Timor and Palau.
Japan is considering supplying completed defense equipment, excluding items defined under Japan's Self-Defense Forces Law as weapons intended to kill or destroy.
To date, Japan has mainly provided dual-use equipment and supplies to foreign militaries, including patrol boats and coastal surveillance radar systems.
The government also hopes that greater use of Japanese-made equipment will help expand the country's defense industry overseas.
