米、日本に防衛費３．５％要求　反発で２プラス２見送りか―英紙報道

　【ワシントン時事】英紙フィナンシャル・タイムズ（電子版）は２０日、トランプ米政権が日本に対し、防衛費を国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比３．５％に引き上げるよう要求したと報じた。もともとの要求は３％だったため、日本側は反発し、７月１日で調整していた外務・防衛担当閣僚による安全保障協議委員会（２プラス２）の開催を見送ったという。
　報道によると、米国防総省ナンバー３のコルビー国防次官（政策担当）が最近、３．５％目標を求めた。要求拡大が日本側の「怒りを買った」とされる。
　７月２０日に参院選の投開票が見込まれることも、２プラス２開催見送りの一因となった。日本側は２プラス２開催が参院選に与える影響を懸念した。（2025/06/21-08:39）

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Japan to increase its defense spending to 3.5 pct of its gross domestic product, higher than the U.S. side's earlier demand for 3 pct, the Financial Times reported Friday.
   The latest request has caused a backlash from the Japanese side, resulting in the postponement of a so-called two-plus-two security meeting between the two nations' foreign and defense ministers, which had been arranged for July 1, according to the report.
   Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, pushed for the higher spending hike, "sparking anger in Washington's closest Asian ally," the British newspaper said.
   The upcoming election for Japan's House of Councillors, expected to be held on July 20, also influenced the decision to push back the two-plus-two meeting, as the Japanese side showed concern about the possible impact of the meeting on the election's outcome, the report said.
   In a similar move, the U.S. government asked Australia to increase its defense spending to 3.5 pct of GDP, provoking a backlash from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.