SDF

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that Japan will launch a new office in the Defense Ministry next month to bolster defenses in the Pacific. The office aims to address challenges in protecting Japan's vulnerable eastern flank.

March 07, 2026 Reported by AI

Following its initial evacuation plans from war-affected Middle Eastern countries, Japan will dispatch a Self-Defense Forces transport plane to the Maldives on Saturday for standby support, while chartered flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia operate on Sunday to repatriate nationals amid U.S.-Israeli tensions with Iran. The government will cover costs and prioritize elderly people and pregnant women.