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Biden supports Japan’s determination to boost its defenses, White House says

In April, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic party asked the government to consider doubling the country’s defense budget

TOKYO, May 23. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden commended Japan’s determination to strengthen its defense capabilities, the White House said in a statement summing up the US leader’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday.

At the talks in Tokyo, Biden also lauded Kishida’s leadership in responding to the situation in Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Biden also noted that a strong alliance between the United States and Japan was the cornerstone of peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region, the statement reads.

In April, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic party asked the government to consider doubling the country’s defense budget to 2% of GDP.

Japan has for the past few years increased spending on its defense, drawing criticism from its neighbors. The country raised its defense budget in the current fiscal year, that started in April 2022, by about 50 billion yen from the previous year to a record high 5.37 trillion yen ($41.9 billion).

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Japan United States Joseph Biden

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