Japan to expand defense equipment aid to 12 nations amid China concerns

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.