'We have to protect them but they don't protect us': Trump complains about US-Japan military alliance

United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump questioned the U.S.-Japan military alliance on Mar. 6, labelling it "interesting".

According to Japan English-language news outlet Kyodo News, Trump's remarks during the press conference at the Oval Office came after a Pentagon statement urged Japan to increase its defence spending by three per cent of gross domestic product.

He also said that he will not defend the country's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies if they refuse to "pay enough for their own defence", reported Reuters.

US and Japan has "interesting" deal

At the conference, Trump was addressing the defence expenditure of European countries in the NATO alliance.

According to Reuters, he had expressed his reluctance to defend such countries if they are not willing to "pay more" for the U.S. to assist them.

The alliance, formed in 1949 in Washington, has a collective defence clause which allows allies to assist one another through military or other means if one member becomes victim of an armed attack.

"If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them," he said.

Trump highlighted the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, initially saying that he "loves" Japan and that the two countries have a "great relationship".

However, he later deemed the treaty "interesting".

"We have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us," Trump said, implying that Japan had made a "fortune" through their relationship.

"Who makes these deals?" Trump questioned.

Under the treaty, which was signed in 1960, the U.S. is obliged to defend Japan if the country falls under an attack.

In return, Japan must allow the U.S. to establish military bases and station its soldiers in the country.

Trump's remarks "inaccurate"

Trump had previously met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in February 2025 but did not air his concerns publicly then, reported Kyodo News.

During the meeting, the pair had discussed cooperation for peace, growth and prosperity, and coordination between the two countries.

Ishiba had also invited Trump to visit Japan in the near future, to which the latter accepted.

Trump later said that the U.S. is "totally committed to the security of Japan".

While the Japanese embassy has not responded to a request for comment, Trump's remarks have been labelled "technically inaccurate" as reforms in Japan's constitution might suggest collective self-defence, allowing Japan to protect the U.S. under specific situations.

Nicholas Szechenyi, a Japan expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said the remarks were "technically inaccurate".

Top photos via White House YouTube