UK, Japan to sign major defense deal today

According to an official statement from Sunak’s office, the two leaders will discuss Japan’s current presidency of the G7 and the need to maintain our collective support for Ukraine.

The deal will allow UK forces to be stationed in Japan in what London has called ‘the most important defense deal between the two countries in more than a century’.

“Over the past 12 months, we have written the next chapter in the relationship between the UK and Japan – accelerating, building and deepening our ties,” Sunak was quoted as saying by AFP.

“This Mutual Access Agreement is extremely important for both of our countries – it reinforces our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and underlines our joint efforts to strengthen economic security.”

Japan’s PM Kishida left on Monday for security-focused talks with Japan’s G7 allies in Europe and North America, which ended on Friday with a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

In Paris, he and Emmanuel Macron pledged deeper ties, with the French president pledging “joint action in the Pacific” and maintaining France’s “unfailing support” against North Korean aggression. In return, Kishida pledged G7 support for Ukraine, AFP reported.

Last month Britain, Italy and Japan said they would jointly develop the fighter jet of the future.

The new “Global Combat Air Program” is set to produce its first jets by 2035, merging the three countries’ expensive existing research into new air combat technology, from stealth capabilities to high-tech sensors.

Post-war Japan has a pacifist constitution, which limits its military capability to ostensibly defensive measures. However, Tokyo is set to make the biggest change to its security strategy in decades, in light of the war in Ukraine, repeated missile launches from North Korea and mounting pressure from China.

The leaders are also expected to discuss trade, including Britain’s possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

(with AFP inputs)