Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are expected to reaffirm their nations’ strategic alignment on defense and economic security during a summit in Tokyo, according to a Japanese government official. The meeting underscores growing cooperation between the two U.S. allies amid rising geopolitical tensions linked to China’s regional influence and Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. n nStarmer’s visit follows a four-day trip to China, where he and President Xi Jinping discussed establishing a stable long-term strategic partnership. His stop in Japan marks his first since assuming office in July 2024 and comes shortly after the two leaders last met in November on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa. n nBoth Tokyo and London view security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions as interconnected. This shared perspective has driven deeper bilateral collaboration, including a trilateral initiative with Italy to co-develop a next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035. n nAs the world’s fourth- and sixth-largest economies, Japan and the United Kingdom have also expanded economic ties, particularly after Britain exited the European Union in 2020. In 2024, the UK joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade framework spearheaded by Japan after the U.S. withdrew in 2017 under President Donald Trump. n nTakaichi and Starmer are scheduled to hold a joint press briefing following their talks, highlighting key outcomes of the summit. n
— news from Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS
— News Original —nAt their meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her British counterpart Keir Starmer are likely to affirm their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a Japanese government official said. n nStarmer ‘s day trip to Japan comes after his four-day stay in China from Wednesday. During that trip, the British leader and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to seek a long-term and stable “strategic partnership” in their talks in Beijing. n nTakaichi, who took office in October, and Starmer are set to hold a joint press event after their summit, according to the official. n nThe meeting comes as Tokyo and London have been deepening their defense ties in recent years in the face of China ‘s rise and Russia ‘s invasion of Ukraine, sharing the view that security in the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable. n nThe two countries, both close U.S. allies and Group of Seven members, have a trilateral project with Italy to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035. n nJapan and Britain, the world ‘s fourth- and sixth-largest economies, respectively, have also been stepping up their economic cooperation especially since the latter ‘s departure from the European Union in 2020. n nIn 2024, Britain became the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Japan-led free trade pact that came into force in 2018 after the U.S. withdrawal the previous year during President Donald Trump ‘s first four-year term through 2021. n nTakaichi and Starmer last met in November in South Africa on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders ‘ summit. For Starmer, it is his first trip to Japan since he became prime minister in July 2024.