Japan is preparing to broaden the scope of its defense aid initiative, with approximately 12 nations set to receive military equipment at no cost during fiscal year 2026, sources familiar with the matter revealed.
The target represents a notable increase from the eight recipient countries supported under the initiative during fiscal 2025.
The deliberate expansion comes as Tokyo responds to mounting security anxieties over China’s increasingly assertive operations in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
Established in fiscal 2023, the Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework was created to bolster the defense and deterrence capabilities of strategic partner nations that share common security goals with Japan.
Since its inauguration, the grant program has provided gear across Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, benefiting nations such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Tonga, and Fiji.
For the 2026 fiscal year—which commenced in April—Tokyo intends to add Kenya and Cambodia to its list of beneficiaries. Under the proposed assistance, Cambodia is slated to receive patrol vessels and communication systems, while Timor-Leste and Vietnam are under active consideration for inclusion.
Marking a key shift in policy this fiscal period, Tokyo intends to start supplying fully assembled, nonlethal military hardware. Previous aid provisions had been restricted to dual-use gear adaptable for civilian or security functions, such as drones and coastal radar units.
Participation in the OSA initiative has scaled up steadily, growing from four partner nations during each of its first two operating years to eight recipients in fiscal 2025. To accommodate the program’s growth, Japan allocated a record ¥18.1 billion in its fiscal 2026 national budget.
The expanded security framework underscores Tokyo’s strategy to cultivate deeper defense ties with regional allies while strengthening regional deterrence in an increasingly complex geopolitical climate.