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Britain and Japan to sign major defence pact as UK expands focus on Indo-Pacific
- Reciprocal access agreement would make it easier for the two nations to engage in military exercises, deploy troops
- Britain seeking to build its influence in Indo-Pacific region as a check on China’s ambitions
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Chad Brayin London
Britain and Japan are expected to sign a major defence pact on Wednesday that will make it easier for the two nations to engage in joint military exercises and deploy troops to each other’s countries.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida are expected to sign a so-called reciprocal access agreement at a ceremony at the Tower of London on Wednesday, following an agreement in principle reached between the countries in May. The pact will go before Japan’s Diet and Britain’s Parliament in the coming weeks.
“In this increasingly competitive world, it is more important than ever that democratic societies continue to stand shoulder to shoulder as we navigate the unprecedented global challenges of our time,” Sunak said in comments ahead of the ceremony.
Britain is the first European country to reach such an agreement with Japan, and British officials have described it as the most important defence pact between the two nations since 1902.
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Japan conducts parachute training with British and Australian armies for first time
Japan conducts parachute training with British and Australian armies for first time
Japan has a security treaty with the United States that allows American troops to be stationed there, as well as a similar reciprocal access agreement reached with Australia in January 2021.
The agreement is the latest in a series of cooperative security efforts between the two countries.
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