Tokyo [Japan], February 1 (ANI): Japan and the United Kingdom have agreed to considerably deepen strategic cooperation spanning defence, cybersecurity, financial safety and important provide chains, throughout a high-level assembly between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, reported JT.
The discussions held on Saturday (native time), which marked Starmer’s first official go to to Japan since taking workplace in July 2024, targeted on strengthening bilateral ties at a second of rising geopolitical uncertainty. Starmer described the partnership as very important towards a backdrop of ‘geopolitical, financial and technological shocks’ affecting world stability.
‘We set out a transparent precedence to construct a fair deeper partnership within the years to come back,’ Starmer mentioned after their bilateral summit on the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, underlining commitments to safety cooperation throughout each the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific areas.
Takaichi echoed this sentiment, noting that Japan and the UK have ‘steadily and concretely superior their cooperation,’ and confirmed that the 2 governments would maintain a two-plus-two assembly of overseas and defence ministers later this yr to additional improve bilateral safety collaboration, reported JT.
At a joint news convention, the leaders additionally signalled an intention to work extra intently in areas past conventional defence cooperation. Agreements have been reached on increasing ties in cybersecurity, power know-how, wind energy and nuclear tasks, in addition to crucial minerals provide chains, that are seen as important to financial resilience and technological competitiveness.
‘Our priorities for this partnership additionally embrace boosting development and financial resilience,’ Starmer mentioned, highlighting innovation, know-how and commerce cooperation as pillars of the evolving relationship.
Takaichi harassed the significance of strengthening provide chains, significantly for crucial minerals, in response to export restrictions and broader issues about world useful resource safety. She mentioned the talks included discussions on a free and open Indo-Pacific, in addition to developments within the Middle East and Ukraine.
Security cooperation was additional underscored by joint commitments to deepen cyber defence partnerships and speed up work on a next-generation fighter plane mission with Italy, which each nations see as important to future navy interoperability and technological edge. (ANI)