Japan Expands Defense Exports, Supplying Equipment to Thailand and Seven Partners

Tokyo, June 21, 2025 – Japan is significantly broadening its Official Security Assistance (OSA) program in the 2025 fiscal year, extending defense exports to Thailand and seven other nations including East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tonga, and more .

Through its OSA initiative—launched in April 2023 and boosted by an ¥8.1 billion ($56 million) budget—Japan provides non-lethal defense equipment such as drones, radar systems, and maritime-surveillance assets. The goal is to support disaster relief capabilities and secure vital sea lanes across the Indo-Pacific  .

During the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 1, Defense Minister Nakatani and Thailand’s Deputy PM/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reaffirmed the deepening Japan–Thailand defense partnership, which includes joint exercises like Cobra Gold and growing JSDF presence on Thai soil  .

The move also reflects a broader shift in Japan’s post-war defense stance. Since 2014’s relaxation of arms export rules and the 2023 increase in OSA funding, Tokyo has been more assertive in expanding its international defense role. Japan is moving toward becoming a proactive security partner, especially amid rising maritime tensions in the region—particularly concerning China’s strategic posture  .

Analysts believe these developments strengthen Indo-Pacific security architectures by enhancing partner countries’ operational capacity, deterring regional threats, and signaling Japan’s commitment to collective defense. The continuous evolution of Japan’s defense-export policy mirrors its ambitions to reinforce global and regional security partnerships.

_Daily Growth Insights