Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, is advancing a realism-based security and defence agenda rooted in Shinzō Abe’s legacy and now backed by stronger political consensus.
Takaichi’s key achievements include expanding defence exports and dual-use R&D, strengthening intelligence structures, and pushing economic security measures against China. Constitutional revision remains her most ambitious goal, not least to legally recognize Japan’s military forces.
Takaichi’s policies have heightened tensions with China, while strengthening defence ties with the US and regional partners such as Australia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Japan’s shift from arms importer to co-producer creates new opportunities for Finland, Europe, and NATO in defence technology, industrial cooperation, and intelligence sharing.
Major uncertainties remain, including whether constitutional reform can succeed, how relations with China will evolve, whether the new export and cooperation frameworks will deliver concrete results, and how the debate over Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles will develop.
