Japan’s NHK One reported Feb. 10: “Interviews with multiple NATO officials have revealed that Japan has decided to participate in a framework established by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to purchase and provide American-made weapons and other equipment to support Ukraine.”
On Feb. 9 Izvestia writes that NHK One added to that statement, “Japan’s funding will be limited to [supposedly] non-lethal defense equipment.”
For Japan to pick up part of the NATO cost of arming Ukraine appears to be a Japan-initiated pathway for it to effectively join NATO, making NATO an international alliance, not just an Atlantic alliance. It also appears as a way for Japan to support belligerent Ukrainian action against Russia.
