UK and Japan sign major defence deal allowing easier troop deployments and joint exercises

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida have signed a major defence pact that makes it easier for the two nations to engage in joint military exercises and deploy troops to each other’s countries. The agreement reached on January 11, 2023, was seen as part of an effort to confront China in the Indo-Pacific region. The deal  makes the UK the third country allowed to deploy troops in Japan, following the US and Australia. Military experts say Japan could eventually be a candidate to join the Aukus security alliance between Australia, the US and Britain.