Tokyo [Japan], February 1 (ANI): Japan and the United Kingdom have agreed to significantly deepen strategic cooperation across defence, cybersecurity, economic security, and critical supply chains during a high-level meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, The Japan Times reported.
The discussions, held on Saturday local time, marked Starmer’s first official visit to Japan since taking office in July 2024. Talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties at a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty. Starmer described the partnership as vital amid “geopolitical, economic, and technological shocks” affecting global stability.
“We set out a clear priority to build an even deeper partnership in the years to come,” Starmer said after the bilateral summit at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, underscoring commitments to security cooperation across both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
Takaichi echoed his remarks, saying Japan and the UK have “steadily and concretely advanced their cooperation.” She confirmed that the two governments would hold a two-plus-two meeting of foreign and defence ministers later this year to further enhance bilateral security collaboration, according to The Japan Times.
At a joint news conference, the leaders also signaled plans to expand cooperation beyond traditional defence areas. Agreements were reached to strengthen ties in cybersecurity, energy technology, wind power, nuclear projects, and critical minerals supply chains, which are viewed as essential to economic resilience and technological competitiveness.
“Our priorities for this partnership also include boosting growth and economic resilience,” Starmer said, highlighting innovation, technology, and trade cooperation as key pillars of the evolving relationship.
Takaichi emphasized the importance of strengthening supply chains, particularly for critical minerals, in response to export restrictions and broader concerns over global resource security. She said the talks also covered a free and open Indo-Pacific, as well as developments in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Security cooperation was further underscored by joint commitments to deepen cyber defence partnerships and accelerate work on a next-generation fighter aircraft project with Italy, which both countries see as crucial to future military interoperability and technological advantage.
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