Japan and the UK signed a new defense deal as Japanese PM Fumio Kishida seeks to bolster security ties with G7 partners amid worries about China’s growing Power.
The deal was signed by the UK PM Rishi Sunak and Kishida at the Tower of London, paving the way for the two countries to deploy forces on each other’s soil for training and other operations.
This deal forms part of the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt foreign policy as builds security and trade ties in the region.
According to the office of the UK PM, the defense deal with Japan is the most significant defense agreement between the two countries in more than a century.
PM Sunak said the Reciprocal Access Agreement is hugely significant for both nations and it cements UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific and underlines UK’s joint efforts to bolster economic security in this increasingly competitive world.
He added that it is more important than ever that democratic societies continue to stand shoulder to shoulder as they navigate the unprecedented global challenges of our time.
The agreement reached comes as Japanese PM Kishida tours the G7 countries in preparation to host the G7 summit in May in Hiroshima.
The deal also comes after it was agreed in principle last May that two countries team up with Italy on a new fighter jet program.
Japan And UK Sign A Significant Defense Deal
I'm a senior member at Forsige covering topics on diplomacy and foreign policy relating to Asia and the World.