US Eye Greater Production Of Defense Parts Amid Concerns Over Insufficient US Stockpile

Japan, US Eye Greater Production Of Defense Parts Amid Concerns Over Insufficient US Stockpile

Japan and the United States are preparing to agree to strengthen their joint production of defense equipment and to specify this in the outcome document for a summit meeting scheduled for April, according to sources in both governments.

U.S. production capacity has been strained by its support for Ukraine, which has been subject to Russian aggression.

Japan is aiming to demonstrate the unity of the Japan-U.S. alliance by supporting U.S. aid for Ukraine, and to maintain deterrence.

The main agenda of the April 10 meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington will be strengthening cooperation between the defense industries of Japan and the United States, according to the sources.

There are concerns on the U.S. side that prolonged support for Ukraine and other factors could lead to an insufficient stockpile of artillery shells and missiles.

Last December, Japan revised the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its Implementation Guidelines. In conjunction with this, Japan decided to export Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles to the United States to help compensate for the U.S. missile shortage.

…The two countries are also eyeing China’s growing hegemonic power and want to strengthen their supply chains for defense equipment, according to the sources.

SOURCE ➡️ American Military News