UK and Japan sign landmark defence pact to strengthen military capabilities

The UK and Japan are set to sign a new landmark defence pact, with the aim of coordinating joint military exercises

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida will travel to London on Thursday to meet with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson.

Downing Street has confirmed the leaders will agree in principle to a “landmark” access agreement.

This will pave the way for Japanese and British forces to deploy military forces together to carry out training, exercises and disaster relief activities.

Johnson says the agreement will accelerate the two nation’s already close defence relationship, while boosting major infrastructure projects across the country.

It further strengthens the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and follows Australia, Britain and the US signing up to the AUKUS pact in September 2021 to develop nuclear-powered submarines and increase joint naval activity in the region.

Japan has just two other bilateral visiting forces agreements, one with the United States and the other with Australia.

The war in Ukraine will also be on the agenda when Johnson and Kishida convene in London.