Reluctant Warriors: Germany, Japan, and Their U.S. Alliance Dilemma

Germany and Japan have been reluctant to take on military responsibilities, but their potential security roles are becoming increasingly important due to uncertainty and volatility in the international environment. Despite boosting defense spending and taking on a broader range of military missions, resistance to rebuilding the military and assuming more responsibility for sustaining regional or global peace remains strong in both countries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2019
Publisher: Brookings Institution

Germany and Japan have been reluctant to take on military responsibilities since the end of World War II, due to their histories and economic importance. However, their long-term reluctance to share the defense burden has become a perennial source of frustration for Washington. The potential security roles of Germany and Japan are becoming increasingly important given the uncertainty and volatility of today's international environment. Under President Trump, friction among allies over burden-sharing is more intense than ever before. Meanwhile, the security environments in Europe and Asia have deteriorated due to the resurgence of a belligerent Russia, the steady rise of an increasingly assertive China, and North Korea's worrisome acquisition of nuclear weapons. In response to these developments, Germany and Japan have boosted their security efforts, mainly by increasing defense spending and taking on a somewhat broader range of military missions. However, resistance remains strong in both countries to rebuilding the military and assuming more responsibility for sustaining regional or even global peace. In "Reluctant Warriors," a team of noted international experts critically examines how and why Germany and Japan have modified their military postures since 1990 so far, and assesses how far the countries still have to go—and why. The contributors also highlight the risks the United States takes if it makes the wrong choices.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815737360