TOKYO -- The Japanese government is set to reveal its defense spending estimates for the next five years to the Trump administration to highlight purchases of American gear, departing from its previous practice of announcing single-year spending plans.
The multiyear budgets are expected to be conveyed as soon as January. Japan typically unveils defense spending on a fiscal year basis, but the medium-term figure will help demonstrate its plans to buy more American defense equipment that will reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. This will be calculated under NATO standards, raising the total by including such items as military pensions.
