Japan’s Military Pivot

For years, Washington has been exhorting Tokyo to shoulder more of its defense burden. Now Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has mounted a diplomatic offensive to make his country the go-to for military alliances—and wants to double defense spending over the next five years as well. “One question is why Kishida seems in such a rush,” writes Tokyo-based journalist William Sposato, who goes on to wonder if Japan can sustain this course on military expansion.?

For more reading on the country’s dramatic shift in strategy, Rena Sasaki argues Japan needs a defense industrial revolution, and Samuel P. Porter proposes a solution to a military mismatch—given Japan’s primary threats are maritime, why has it invested so heavily in a land-based force? Finally, there’s A.A. Bastian’s warning that Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa is in the crosshairs of China’s ambitions. Don’t miss any of our continued coverage of Japan and East Asia by setting an email alert for relevant stories whenever they publish. This customizable feature is only for subscribers and is available at the end of every article.—The editors

New and Noteworthy

• The Many Trials of Imran Khan : One year ago, Khan was ousted as prime minister through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Since losing power, he has rallied mass support and pushed for snap elections. Catch up quickly by reading our latest stories on Pakistani politics, including an analysis of the 140 charges against the ousted prime minister and other supporters of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Insiders can read an exclusive Q&A from November 2022, in which Khan discusses his legacy and aspirations, his relations with Washington, and how he’d deal with inflation, unemployment, and soaring national debt if he retook power.
• Networking in the Nude With Finnish Diplomats : The world of diplomacy is full of stodgy pomp and circumstance. But talking points and stuffy formality don’t hold up well when you’re sitting naked in a hot, dark room with your opposite number, and maybe that’s what makes the sauna sizzle in foreign policy, writes FP’s Robbie Gramer.?
• HowTheLightGetsIn : The world’s largest philosophy and music festival is taking place in the United Kingdom from May 26 to May 29 in the idyllic town of Hay-on-Wye. FP readers get a 20 percent discount on festival tickets with the exclusive promo code FOREIGNPOLICY23. Explore the program here .

FP Live

Lawrence H. Summers on the Global Economy

April 14?| 11 a.m. EST

Will the world tip into a recession in 2023? As the World Bank and International Monetary Fund hold their spring meetings, FP’s Ravi Agrawal will sit down with economist Lawrence H. Summers for a conversation about how the global economy is faring in the wake of multiple crises—and what options policymakers should pursue.

Register here .

Colin Kahl on America’s Defense Strategy

April 17?| 11 a.m. EST

Colin Kahl, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, is tasked with building and planning U.S. national security strategy. A former editor of FP’s Shadow Government page, Kahl will join editor in chief Ravi Agrawal for an in-depth conversation about the country’s defense and foreign-policy priorities.

Register here .

John Kerry on the Climate Challenge

April 19?| 11 a.m. EST

John Kerry is U.S. President Joe Biden’s special envoy for climate. He’ll join FP’s Ravi Agrawal to discuss the United States’ role in the climate crisis and the White House’s plans to reach its goals. The interview serves as a preview to FP’s 2023 Climate Summit on April 26.

Register here .

Exercise Your Mind

What is the subject of the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela that the International Court of Justice decided it could hear on Thursday?

1. Who owns border territory rich in oil and gas
2. Who owns border territory rich in gold
3. The precise line of their shared border with Brazil
4. Whether cricket or soccer is the superior sport

You can find the answer to this question at the end of this email. Click here to take the rest of our weekly news quiz.

Most Popular on FP

Book Review

Hostile Homelands

Journalist Azad Essa’s new book, Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel, argues that India’s growing partnership with Israel is based upon a convergence of ethnonational ideological perspectives. It covers much of what is already known about the evolution of the relationship, and those familiar with the partnership may not find much that is especially novel. Essa nevertheless scours a range of academic and popular sources to construct his key arguments.

Essa wants to demonstrate in this book that the burgeoning strategic partnership between India and Israel involves the jettisoning of all moral scruples and is increasingly based upon a convergence of ideological proclivities as well as mutually beneficial material ties across a range of areas, from commerce to defense. His argument is only partially accurate, because the strengthening of Indian-Israeli ties had started before the rise of powerful ethnonationalist governments in the two countries…

Read the full review in Foreign Policy .

From Around FP

• IMF Spring Meetings : FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal will be moderating a session at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings on Wednesday, April 12, at 2:30 p.m. EDT, with the IMF’s deputy managing director and the finance ministers of Kenya, Albania, and Chile. Tune into the livestream here .?
• Why Putin Won’t Use Nuclear Weapons : James Stavridis is a retired four-star admiral who served as supreme allied commander at NATO. He is currently a managing director of the Carlyle Group. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with him on FP Live to discuss how Washington should think about arming Ukraine and what Kyiv should consider while planning its forthcoming push to repel Russian forces. Watch the conversation on demand or read a distilled summary exclusive to FP Insiders.

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Answer: 1.) Who owns border territory rich in oil and gas. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has vowed to “reconquer” the disputed Essequibo border region as his nation faces dire economic, humanitarian, and security crises, Paul J. Angelo and Wazim Mowla wrote in March 2022.