Japan's foreign defense aid to rise 60% in FY 2025

Japan has allocated 8.1 billion yen ($51 million) for fiscal 2025 to provide defense equipment to the armed forces of like-minded nations, marking a more than 60 percent increase from the previous year.While the government has yet to finalize the recipient nations for the next fiscal year from April under its "official security assistance" program, the Philippines, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea are set to be included, Foreign Ministry officials said.Japan is also considering giving security aid to some Pacific island states, according to the officials.The spending is part of the government'…READ FULL ARTICLE