The Foreign Ministry will seek ¥874.3 billion in its budget request for fiscal 2026, up 15.3% from the fiscal 2025 initial budget, informed sources said Wednesday.

The ministry plans to allocate ¥44.1 billion to operations to deal with information warfare, such as analysis of information manipulation, including false information spread by foreign actors, and strategic dissemination of information abroad. The budget request will also call for building information infrastructure and developing digital human resources.

On the economic front, the ministry plans to support Japanese companies' overseas expansion through its diplomatic establishments and bolster economic security through what it calls the "offer-type" proactive approach to official development assistance projects.

A total of ¥321.8 billion will be earmarked for repairs to its overseas establishments and measures to strengthen the protection of expatriates.

The ministry will request ¥8.21 billion in the area of official security assistance, under which Japan provides defense equipment free of charge to like-minded countries.