Japan Joins Trump Golden Dome, Expects Missile Request
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- Japan will inform the U.S. next week that it intends to join Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense initiative, with PM Takaichi announcing the plan at a March 19 leaders' summit in Washington.
- Tokyo expects Washington may request it produce or co-develop missiles to replace U.S. munitions depleted by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and support for Ukraine, and is still weighing how to respond.
- The Golden Dome project, announced last year with a 2028 timeline, has made little visible progress so far, and details of Japan's role remain unclear.
- Yomiuri, which first reported Japan's plans, said Tokyo hopes the system can defend against new hypersonic glide weapons being developed by China and Russia.
- Japan exported a batch of license-built Patriot missiles to the United States late last year, marking a historic break from its long-standing ban on lethal weapons exports.
- Patriot interceptors have been critical in shooting down hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones fired at Gulf countries since the U.S. and Israel launched their air war against Iran earlier this month.
Why it matters: Japan's participation gives the stalled Golden Dome program a credible industrial partner and ties Tokyo more tightly to US deterrence against China and North Korea. With US munitions stocks drawn down by the Iran war and Ukraine support, Japanese missile production is now under active US consideration.
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