Kathrine Frich
For decades, the United States has been seen as the ultimate security guarantor for its allies.
But Donald Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland — a territory belonging to NATO ally Denmark — have shaken that assumption and raised doubts about how Washington treats even its closest partners.
Japan now appears to be joining a growing list of allies left waiting, after an audit revealed that billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. military equipment has failed to arrive years after it was ordered.
Orders still missing
An investigation by Japanese government auditors has found that 118 orders for U.S. military equipment have not been delivered, even though more than five years have passed since the contracts were signed.
The findings were reported by Nikkei Asia, which said the deals fall under Washington’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
The undelivered equipment is part of a package worth about $7.2 billion, paid for by Japan in advance under the terms of the programme.
Delays were attributed to U.S. manufacturers, according to Japanese officials cited in the report.
Operational impact
The audit said the delays have forced the Japan Self-Defense Forces to rely on older systems as stopgap measures.
Officials warned that this has affected readiness and raised concerns about long-term planning.
Military outlet DefenseBlog highlighted one of the most serious cases.
Equipment needed to maintain the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft had still not arrived five years after being ordered.
The E-2D plays a key role in monitoring airspace and coordinating defence operations, and the audit said the delay had a direct impact on the operational capability of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force.
Limits of contracts
According to the report, the structure of the FMS system leaves buyer countries with little leverage once contracts are signed.
Delivery timelines included in agreements are described as indicative rather than legally binding on the U.S. government.
As a result, Japan has had limited ability to enforce deadlines, despite having paid for the equipment in advance.
The auditors said this imbalance exposed Tokyo to prolonged delays without clear remedies.
Strategic questions
The findings come as Japan is pursuing its largest military buildup since World War II, driven by concerns over regional security and growing tensions in East Asia.
The FMS programme remains the backbone of U.S. arms exports to allies.
According to U.S. government data, around 189 countries and international organisations currently participate, with sales approved by the State Department on a case-by-case basis.
The audit’s conclusions are likely to fuel debate in Japan over procurement strategy and dependence on U.S. defence supplies.
Sources: DefenseBlog, money.pl
