Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to inform President Donald Trump during a March 19 meeting that Japan intends to participate in the next-generation missile defense initiative aimed at countering emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Japan is preparing to notify the United States that it intends to participate in a new missile defense program known as the Golden Dome, according to reporting by the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri citing government officials familiar with the plan.
The announcement is expected to be delivered during a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., on March 19. Officials said the summit will include discussions on defense cooperation and emerging security threats.
According to the report, Tokyo plans to communicate its intention to join the next-generation missile defense initiative during the meeting, marking a potential expansion of U.S.–Japan defense collaboration.
The Golden Dome program is being developed as an advanced missile defense architecture designed to counter new categories of strategic weapons, including hypersonic glide vehicles that have been under development by Russia and China.
Hypersonic glide vehicles are capable of traveling at extremely high speeds while maneuvering during flight, making them more difficult to intercept using traditional missile defense systems.
The Golden Dome initiative envisions the deployment of interceptors in space as part of a layered defensive network intended to detect, track, and neutralize incoming threats before they reach their targets.
Under current planning, the United States expects operational elements of the system to begin deployment by January 2029.
Officials familiar with the discussions said Japan’s participation would represent a significant step in expanding the defensive network and strengthening coordination between the two countries on advanced missile defense technology.
Japan and the United States already cooperate extensively on missile defense systems designed to intercept ballistic missile threats, particularly those originating in the Indo-Pacific region.
The upcoming meeting between Takaichi and Trump is expected to address a range of strategic issues including regional security developments, technological cooperation, and military coordination between the two allies.
Government officials have not yet released additional details about what role Japan may play in the Golden Dome program, including whether Tokyo would contribute technological capabilities, financial resources, or operational support as the project develops.
The summit in Washington will mark the first formal discussion between the two leaders regarding Japan’s potential participation in the initiative.
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