In 2025, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its majority in both houses of parliament and its 26-year coalition with the Komeito party broke up.

Christy Govella predicts that 2026 will be a landmark year for Japanese security policy, with the government under Prime Minister Sonia Takechi pushing forward significant defense reforms.

Japanese Prime Minister Sonia Takechi has accelerated Japan's commitment to increase its defense spending to 2% of GDP.