Italian PM Opposes US Troop Withdrawal; Japan Protests Constitutional Revisions

Giorgia Meloni said she would not support any decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw US troops from Italy. This statement came amid broader international discussions on military deployments.

Japan experienced its largest protests in support of its pacifist constitution, with an estimated 50,000 people gathering in Tokyo on May 3, 2026, to oppose revisions. Demonstrations occurred nationwide on Constitutional Memorial Day, marking the 79th anniversary of the constitution's enactment on May 3, 1947.

Protesters emphasized the importance of Article 9, which forbids Japan from using military force to settle international disputes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaking during an official visit to Vietnam, called for advanced discussions on revising the constitution to reflect current demands.

She argued that the document, drafted by US occupation forces after World War II, should be periodically updated. Takaichi, from the conservative wing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has made reform a focal point since becoming prime minister last autumn.

>"We mustn’t have discussion just for discussion’s sake," — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, May 2026 (The Guardian). Revisionists target Article 9, claiming it restricts Japan's response to security threats from North Korea and China. Any changes would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Japan's parliament and a simple majority in a national referendum.

Recent polls show divided public opinion on revisions. A Yomiuri Shimbun survey found 57% in favor, while an Asahi Shimbun poll reported 47% support. Protesters argued that Article 9 has kept Japan out of conflicts, including US-led wars. Trump has criticized Japan for not contributing troops to the Middle East.

The US embassy in Tokyo posted a message praising the constitution's principles of popular sovereignty, human rights, and pacifism, noting it has remained unchanged for 79 years. >"Under Takaichi, Japan is following America like a dog follows its owner," — Hiroko Maekawa, Tokyo ward councillor, May 3, 2026 (The Guardian).

Protests have grown, from 3,600 people outside parliament in late February to 36,000 later that month. Attendees included elderly individuals recalling postwar peace, with one 87-year-old in Osaka telling Kyodo news agency she wants to pass the constitution to the next generation.

Takaichi prepared to travel to Australia to discuss energy security, critical minerals, and defense with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Local councillor Megumi Koike described the constitution as a national treasure, urging spending on healthcare, education, and jobs instead of weapons.

These events underscore tensions in US alliances, with Italy's Meloni opposing potential troop withdrawals and Japan debating military constraints amid US requests.