Britain and Japan will sign a historic deal permitting the deployment of the British military in the Far East.
Negotiations will conclude with a signature at the Tower of London. The agreement will permit the deployment of British and Japanese soldiers in each other's nations.
UK-Japan Defense Pact
The pact will assist the two nations in "cementing our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and highlighting our collaborative efforts to strengthen economic security, expedite our defense cooperation, and push innovation that produces highly skilled employment," according to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The British government has stated that it will let the armed services of the United Kingdom and Japan "plan and execute larger and more complicated military exercises and deployments."
After the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020, its foreign policy will adopt a new "Indo-Pacific tilt," as indicated by the signing. Britain views Japan as its most important East Asian ally in light of China's growing military aggression and designs on Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province.
The agreement also follows Britain's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade deal among a dozen countries that began in 2018 as an evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a deal that was never ratified due to President Donald Trump's withdrawal.
The UK applied to join the group in February 2021, and Japan assumed the lead in discussions to facilitate Britain's entrance, which it has continued to promote vocally. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his desire for a "strategic conversation" with Sunak, Fox News reported.
The leaders addressed Japan's current G-7 chair, the necessity of maintaining collective support for Ukraine against Russia, and measures to preserve "chain resilience" in Asia. In 1613, Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada of Japan presented King James VI and I with an exhibition of Japanese armor to commemorate the first trade agreement between England and Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his British colleague Rishi Sunak signed the military agreement in the Tower of London, a medieval stronghold that houses the crown jewels. The two leaders were shown a suit of Japanese samurai armor that Shogun Tokugawa donated to King James I of England in 1613 to commemorate the first trade deal between England and Japan.
Officially known as the Reciprocal Access Agreement, the accord was approved in principle in May. Japan has never before inked such an agreement with a European ally. As per the US-Japan Security Treaty, thousands of American soldiers are stationed in Japan.
In a statement, Sunak's office stated, "It is more crucial than ever that democratic nations continue to stand shoulder to shoulder as we negotiate the tremendous global problems of our time in a world that is becoming increasingly competitive."
In addition, the two nations agreed to collaborate with Italy to create a new sixth-generation fighter plane. The British company BAE Systems is currently developing a Tempest prototype. It would be the largest-ever initiative of Japanese-European defense cooperation.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's military growth, Japan seeks to strengthen defense relations, according to Jonathan Eyal of the British Royal United Services Institute.
The military pact is part of the United Kingdom's geopolitical tilt toward the Asia-Pacific area. Sunak and Kishida also addressed the United Kingdom's participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-nation trade pact. After leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom is pursuing new trade deals.
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US-Japan Military Cooperation Amid China Threats
Meanwhile, US and Japanese officials announced that the two countries would increase their military cooperation, including enhancing Japan's missile strike capabilities and enhancing the combat readiness of the US Marine battalion stationed in Japan.
The changes result from China, North Korea, and Russia behaving more menacingly, as well as China and North Korea acting more aggressively. Despite widespread censure of Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, these three states have lately reaffirmed their decades-long alliances in varied contexts, as per NY Times.
In recent years, the United States and Japan have worked to enhance their military relationship. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III met with their Japanese colleagues in Washington to address security challenges and other subjects.
On Friday, President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are slated to meet in Washington. Austin stated at a news conference following Wednesday's sessions, "There is a significant strategic agreement between the views of President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida."
In addition, he lauded Japan's intention to expand its yearly military expenditures. The Kishida government published a new national security policy this month in which Japan promised to spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on its yearly defense budget. This significant increase aligns it with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's benchmark.
Additionally, Austin reinforced Japan's determination to invest more in "counterstrike capability," or offensive missiles. Japan has announced its intention to purchase many Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States. Later this week, according to Blinken, officials from the two governments will sign an agreement establishing a defense alliance in outer space.
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