Japan to Join Trump's Golden Dome Project
Japan plans to notify the U.S. next week of its intention to participate in the "Golden Dome" missile defense program and anticipates that Washington might request its assistance with missile manufacturing, owing to the ongoing Middle East war and other disputes, as per reports.
According to reports from Japanese government sources, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will unveil the new plan during her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at a leaders' summit in Washington D.C. on March 19.
Trump's Golden Dome initiative, revealed last year with a bold 2028 goal, aims to enhance current ground-based defense systems like interceptor missiles by incorporating additional experimental space-based components designed to identify, follow, and possibly neutralize incoming threats from space.
However, the project has shown minimal observable advancement thus far. The specifics of Japan's involvement are still uncertain.
The Yomiuri newspaper, which initially disclosed Japan's plans on Friday, stated that Tokyo aimed for the initiative to help protect the nation from emerging hypersonic glide weapons being created by China and Russia.
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Tokyo expects that Trump might ask Japan to manufacture or collaboratively develop missiles to replenish U.S. ammunition stores diminished by the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran and its assistance to Ukraine, according to the sources. Reports indicate that it is still deliberating on how to address any such request.
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Last year, Japan exported a set of surface-to-air Patriot missiles manufactured under license for the United States, representing a significant shift from its previous prohibition on lethal weapon exports.
The Trump administration is urging defense contractors to increase the output of missiles and other munitions that have diminished in recent years. Tokyo aims to enhance its munitions stockpile to discourage a more assertive China and nuclear-capable North Korea.
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Patriot interceptors have been essential in shooting down numerous Iranian ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Gulf nations since the U.S. and Israel initiated their air campaign against Iran earlier this month.