Germany and Japan, the two main Axis powers defeated in World War II, are now rearming themselves following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It is a historical shift, as the crushing defeat of Nazi Germany and the surrender of the Empire of Japan after the atomic bomb attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced the two countries to disarm.
After World War II, both Germany and Japan followed pacifist policies as nations, minimizing defense spending and putting emphasis on industry and development.
Now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, Germany is announcing a €100 billion ($113 billion) special fund for investments in its armed forces.
At the same time, at a recent press conference, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that “Japan needs to implement a fundamental upgrade of its defense capabilities.”