OMM Newsroom
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government would “seriously consider” equipping the country’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) with nuclear-powered submarines, citing increased military activity by neighboring countries, Kyodo News Agency reported.
“We will seriously consider the possibility in a concrete and realistic manner,” Takaichi told parliament on Wednesday.
She described strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities as an urgent priority, saying the military faces significant limitations in intelligence gathering and surveillance operations in the Pacific.
Tokyo will also examine developments in partner countries, including Australia and South Korea, as it weighs the proposal. Australia has committed to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.
Japanese law restricts nuclear energy to peaceful purposes, and successive governments have maintained that nuclear propulsion cannot be used for SDF submarines. Japan also upholds three non-nuclear principles prohibiting the possession, production and introduction of nuclear weapons.
Earlier this month, Takaichi told parliament that no decision had been made on submarine propulsion. Government officials are reportedly considering including nuclear-powered submarines among the options in Japan’s revised national security and defense documents later this year.
