Japan is reassessing the national security approach it followed for decades after World War II. That policy was shaped by pacifism and strict limits on the use of military force, defining the country’s defense posture throughout the postwar era.
The shift marks a significant change in how Japan is approaching security. The country is moving away from the restrictions that long characterized its defense policy as it confronts a more dangerous international environment.
This transformation also places the United States in a position to reconsider its own role. The central question is whether Washington should support Japan’s evolving strategy and adapt its approach to a changing security partnership in the region.
