Japan Repositions Itself as a Regional Security Anchor under Takaichi

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has set the stage for a decisive shift in Tokyo’s defense posture. Her government’s early announcement to reach defense spending equal to 2% of GDP by next spring—two years ahead of schedule—signals both continuity with the late Shinzo Abe’s strategic vision and a proactive response to Washington’s call for gr…