The multinational project to develop a next-generation fighter jet, involving Japan, Britain, and Italy, is progressing rapidly, but emerging geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding Saudi Arabia’s potential participation, are casting a shadow over the initiative.
The collaboration, aimed at producing a stealth fighter jet, has already raised alarms in Japan due to its potential implications for the nation’s post-war pacifist stance on arms exports.
A pivotal moment came when a treaty establishing the tri-national governmental agency “GIGO,” responsible for coordinating the efforts of participating companies and overseeing exports, came into effect.
The agency, headquartered in Britain, has appointed a former senior Japanese Defense Ministry official as its first chief. Additionally, a joint venture with equal investments from the three countries’ companies is set to begin.
While the project has garnered international attention for its ambitious scope, it has not been without controversy, particularly in Japan.
In March of this year, the government of then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a significant policy shift by allowing Japan to export finished fighter jets to third countries.
This decision has been met with strong criticism from editorial boards like The Asahi Shimbun, which sees it as undermining Japan’s long-standing policy of restricting arms exports under its pacifist Constitution.
Further complicating matters is Saudi Arabia’s expressed interest in joining the fighter jet program.
Although Japan has remained cautious about Riyadh’s participation, citing concerns about delays to the jet’s 2035 deployment target, Britain and Italy are reportedly enthusiastic about Saudi involvement.
The oil-rich nation’s substantial financial resources would significantly ease the heavy financial burden of developing the fighter, which is estimated to cost trillions of yen.
For Saudi Arabia, the involvement is seen as a strategic move to diversify its economy away from oil dependency and bolster its aviation and military industries.
However, Saudi Arabia’s role in the project would likely be limited to providing capital, as its technological contribution to the program is expected to be minimal.
The prospect of Saudi Arabia’s participation raises serious questions, particularly in light of Japan’s diplomatic stance in the Middle East.
Japan has long prioritized maintaining neutral and amicable relations with all countries in the region, a policy rooted in the oil crisis of the 1970s.
However, collaboration with Saudi Arabia presents new challenges. Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical actions, particularly its involvement in the civil war in Yemen, where the Eurofighter jets were used in airstrikes, complicate its inclusion in a project with Japan, a nation committed to peace and conflict prevention.
In recent discussions between leaders of Japan, Britain, and Italy on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Brazil, Saudi Arabia’s involvement was reportedly on the agenda.
However, Japanese officials, including Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, have been cautious in addressing the issue. Nakatani stated that it is “not yet time to make presumptions about the participation of any third country.”
The Japanese government’s stance on the matter remains unclear. As the project moves forward, the government must address whether Saudi Arabia’s involvement aligns with Japan’s pacifist principles and diplomatic objectives.
Given the complexity of the situation, the Diet should engage in a thorough debate about the potential consequences of such a partnership and the implications for Japan’s global standing.