The United States has informed Japan of significant delays in the delivery of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles due to efforts by the Pentagon to rebuild its depleted stockpiles after extensive use during military operations against Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth conveyed the delay to his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, in a phone call earlier this month, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Japan placed its first-ever order for Tomahawks in 2024, a $2.35 billion deal aimed at strengthening its deterrence capabilities against China. With a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers, the missiles would provide Japan with a counterstrike capability against coastal Chinese targets. The purchase followed heightened US encouragement for Japan to increase its defense spending amid growing regional security concerns.

The postponement significantly impacts Japan’s national security plans, as the initial contract anticipated deliveries in two batches of 200 missiles by April 2028. Sources indicate the delay could extend the delivery timeline by up to two years, complicating Japan’s ongoing revisions of its defense and security strategies. Yuki Tatsumi, a Japanese defense analyst at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security, described the delay as a “considerable complication,” noting that the country’s current plans assume timely receipt of the missiles and may rely on further Tomahawk acquisitions.

The decision to delay shipments to Japan is part of a broader US military effort to replenish missile inventories that were heavily drawn down during Operation Epic Fury, a five-week campaign against Iran. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US launched over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles from an estimated prewar stockpile of 3,100, with CSIS noting that manufacturing and delivery of the weapons typically takes around four years following congressional funding approval.

The delays have sparked concerns among US allies in the Indo-Pacific region, where Japan is considered a critical partner. Some analysts argue that the prioritization of replenishing stocks for the Middle East undermines previous US commitments to prioritize the Asia-Pacific theater. Zack Cooper, an Asia security expert at the American Enterprise Institute, remarked that despite repeated assurances from US officials about focusing on Asia, the Pentagon appears to be placing greater emphasis on the Middle East, a shift likely to have lasting impacts on regional allies.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on the matter, while Japan’s embassy in Washington affirmed ongoing frequent communication between the two countries but refrained from discussing specific issues. The missile delays add a complex dimension to the evolving security dynamics within the Indo-Pacific as Japan seeks to bolster its defense posture amid rising regional tensions.