UK and Japan agree defence deal
The UK and Japan have agreed a defence deal that will allow their national forces to “work more closely together”, according to Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister, speaking in Downing Street alongside his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, said he is “so glad” the two nations have agreed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) for armed services.
He said allies in Europe and east Asia have to be unified in the face of “autocratic, coercive powers”.
Mr Kishida’s first official visit at the invitation of the Government was marked with a guard of honour and an RAF flypast over Horse Guards Parade in central London.
Before holding talks in No 10 on Thursday, the two leaders stood on a dais as they witnessed a Voyager and two Typhoon fighter jets soar over St James’ Park and the parade ground.
Mr Kishida was then invited in Japanese by the captain of the Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, to inspect the troops.
After the spectacle, Mr Johnson and Mr Kishida headed to Downing Street where the British leader announced that a military accord has been struck.
The Prime Minister said the world has observed the “strong stance” the Japanese government has taken “against the Russian aggression in Ukraine”.
He added: “We in the UK recognise that our security in Europe is indivisible from the security, our collective security, in the Asia-Pacific, in the Indo-Pacific region.
“And there is direct read across from the actions of autocratic, coercive powers in Europe, to what may happen in east Asia. And that’s why we want to work more closely together. And today I’m so glad that we’ve agreed the reciprocal access agreement between our armed services.”
