Japan will double the number of countries it provides free defense equipment to in fiscal 2025 as concerns grow about waning U.S. involvement in Asia under President Donald Trump.
The Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, which provides defense equipment to developing countries for free, will now include as many as nine countries. The government has earmarked 8.1 billion yen ($54.6 million) in related expenses in the fiscal 2025 budget, up 60% on the year.
