Japanese Weapons Are Open for Export || Peter Zeihan

TL;DR

Japan's new weapons export law unlocks its advanced manufacturing and robotics for global arms sales, with drones being the most transformative near-term impact.

Key Points

• 1.Japan lifted its post-WWII weapons export ban, opening sales to 20 allied nations. Defense spending has nearly doubled from ~1% to just under 2% of GDP as China's threat grew, but industrial capacity hasn't fully caught up yet.
• 2.Ships are the immediate phase-one export opportunity. Japan already has deals with Australia and others to expand shipyard output — backed by one of the world's top three navies alongside the US and UK.
• 3.Japan is poised to become a dominant drone power within two years. Its decades-long national robot strategy, automated manufacturing, and a new production deal with Ukraine combine to make rapid, mass drone development and export highly likely.