Photo/Illutration An autonomous underwater vehicle for research developed by IHI Corp. is on display at the DSEI Japan event at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on May 21. (Taro Ono)

CHIBA—A record number of companies and organizations showcased their weaponry at an international arms trade show here, where a skeptical mood spread on whether the United States was still a dependable partner.

The event, called DSEI Japan, was held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba until May 23, the third time Japan has hosted the weapons show.

It was organized by a group consisting of alumni of the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces and supported by the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry and economy ministry.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba became the first incumbent Japanese leader to visit the arms show on May 22.

In his keynote speech, Ishiba stressed that cooperation between Japan and its allies is “extremely important for peace and stability of our country and the region.”

The high-tech hardware items displayed at the event included armored vehicles, helicopters and fighter jets.

The show also gave military and defense officials from various countries the opportunity to hold business negotiations and exchange information on trends in weaponry.

The arms business has been expanding rapidly worldwide, reflecting concerns about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the destabilization of the international order.

According to a Defense Ministry source, other shifts in the international arms market have occurred since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January.

Trump’s unpredictability has created unease about relying on U.S.-made weapons and security arrangements, according to the source.

A trend toward “de-dependence on the U.S.” is emerging.

Of the approximately 470 participating companies and organizations at the show, Europeans accounted for more than a quarter, or about 130.

“European countries in particular are beginning to seek security that does not depend on the United States, and they are likely to move away from the U.S. in arms trading,” the defense source said.

Heigo Sato, a professor of security studies at Takushoku University, said a sense of caution has emerged stemming from perceptions of the Trump administration.

“The U.S. and Europe have been restructuring and dividing the defense industry since the 1990s, but the international division of labor is easily affected by the trends of other countries,” Sato said. “If something happens, the damage could be great. Europe is trying to assess the risks of dependence on the U.S.”

The arms show started in Britain in 1999 and was first held in Japan in 2019 with a view to developing the Asian market.

Since then, the number of participating Japanese companies has risen to about 170, partly due to Japan’s significant increase in defense spending and its deregulation of arms exports.

The venue area for this year’s show was 30,000 square meters, double the 15,000 square meters used in 2019.

At Makuhari Messe, booths of companies from 33 countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, Australia and Britain, displayed models of next-generation fighter jets and missiles, including those that will be jointly developed by Britain, Italy and Japan.

Particularly prominent at the event were drones, a focus of attention in the war in Ukraine.

One exhibit showed autonomous underwater vehicles, called “underwater drones,” made in Japan.

Naoaki Hidani, a security analyst who heads a modern warfare research group, displayed a drone built on a 3D printer.

“Drones of digital civilian technology are an essential item for winning modern warfare,” he said.

(This article was written by Shun Suzuki and Taro Ono.)

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