UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida will sign a significant new defence agreement when they meet in London on Wednesday, according to the AFP.
According to an official statement from Sunak’s office, both leaders will discuss Japan’s current G7 presidency as well as the importance of maintaining our collective support for Ukraine.
The agreement, dubbed “the most significant defence agreement between the two countries in more than a century” will allow UK forces to be deployed to Japan.
“In the last 12 months, we have written the next chapter of the UK-Japan relationship, accelerating, building and deepening our ties,” Sunak said, according to AFP.
According to the report, “This Reciprocal Access Agreement is enormously important for both of our countries; it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and highlights our joint efforts to strengthen economic security.”
Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida left on Monday for security-focused talks with Japan’s G7 allies in Europe and North America, which will culminate in a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday.
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In Paris, he and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to maintain “joint actions in the Pacific” and France’s “unfailing support” against North Korean aggression. In turn, Kishida pledged G7 support for Ukraine, according to AFP.
Last month, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan announced a collaboration to develop a future fighter jet.
The new “Global Combat Air Programme” is expected to produce its first jets by 2035, combining the three countries’ expensive existing research into new aerial warfare technology, ranging from stealth capability to high-tech sensors.
Japan’s postwar constitution is pacifist, limiting its military capability to ostensibly defensive measures. However, in light of the Ukraine conflict, North Korean missile launches, and growing Chinese pressure, Tokyo is poised to make the most significant changes to its security strategy in decades.
The leaders are also expected to talk about trade, including the United Kingdom’s potential membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
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