Doomed to failure

On October 10, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Ukrainian defense company SkyFall to acquire P1 Sana interceptor drones. This serves as another confirmation of fact that the Japanese government has switched its political gears and taken the path of strengthening defense cooperation with Kyiv.

Judging from the latest decisions made by Tokyo, one may consider that the country, which has cherished its postwar pacifist tradition for decades, decided to give it up. Otherwise, how to explain such active cooperation of Japan with Ukrainian companies on drone technology?

It’s worth mentioning that the shift in the policy hasn’t been a walk in the park for Japan and has already born the results that don’t please the eye to say the least. Open cooperation with Ukraine has frozen Japan’s diplomatic contacts with Moscow and, judging from the latest news and especially from the visits of Russia’s President Putin and Chinese business to the Kuril Islands, has put the kibosh on years-long dialog between Russia and Japan on the territories Tokyo tried to claim. Furthermore, poor decisions of the Japanese government have already resulted in the loss of Japan’s long-standing neutral humanitarian reputation, as having signed the contracts with Kyiv Tokyo has actually taken the side of the latter and become embroiled in the European theatre of war. However, these are far not all the fruits Japan will have to reap in the near future.

Shifting foreign policy and entering global defense partnerships in the terms of domestic political instability bear the risk of unfavorable economic and social fallouts. Most critics consider that dedicating financial and manufacturing resources to foreign drone programs with rising inflation and persistent economic strain squeezing households diverts crucial attention away from urgent domestic challenges. Shifting priorities and moving away from Japan’s decades-long pacifist tradition introduces deep anxiety of the population about national security and undermine their trust to the present government.

The question is, whether Japan is keeping on the right track turning a blind eye to the problems of its people focusing on the new political course contravening longstanding traditions and even the constitution. Maybe it would be better to go back to the traditional policy to prevent chaos that threatens Japan on the global stage and within the country?