Japan plans wider security assistance including Kenya and Cambodia
Kenya and Cambodia are among five planned additions while Tokyo finalises its selection of about 12 security assistance recipients for fiscal 2026.
- Japan plans to expand its Official Security Assistance (OSA) program in fiscal 2026, with Kenya and Cambodia expected to be among five new recipient countries.
- The assistance will include discussing the supply of patrol boats to Kenya and providing Cambodia with communications equipment and patrol boats under an existing agreement.
- This expansion will also involve supplying fully assembled defense equipment for the first time, moving beyond just components and dual-use goods.
Japan intends to extend support under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme beyond dual-use goods and defence equipment components in fiscal 2026 by supplying fully assembled defence equipment.
Around 18.1 billion yen has been allocated in the fiscal 2026 budget for expenditure connected with the programme.
OSA channels defence equipment and materials to like-minded countries.
Work on selecting about 12 recipients is close to completion.
The fiscal 2026 group is expected to include five new countries, among them Kenya and Cambodia.
OSA began with four recipient countries in fiscal 2023, covered four again in fiscal 2024 and expanded to eight in fiscal 2025.
The two named additions are at different stages.
Japan plans to discuss supplying patrol boats to Kenya.
By contrast, an agreement is already in place to provide Cambodia with communications equipment and patrol boats.
Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline has taken on greater significance because the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa’s southern tip offers shipping a way to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan also intends to use OSA to pursue closer coordination with other partners.
It plans to work with Australia on the construction of military infrastructure in Fiji, while equipment intended for Palau could also be used by US troops stationed there.
Source: The Japan News
