Defence deal on the menu as UK rolls out red carpet for Japan’s Kishida (Image Credit: Space war)
UK and Japan leaders Boris Johnson and Fumio Kishida were on Thursday to hold talks in London, where they were set to agree a new defence agreement and measures to reduce dependency on Russian energy supplies.
The pair were expected to agree in principle to deepen military ties in the Indo-Pacific, while the UK was set to announce plans for a new trade envoy to Tokyo, according to Johnson’s Downing Street office.
Kishida will be welcomed by a Royal Air Force flypast and a guard of honour to mark his first official visit to the UK.
“As two great island democracies, and the third and fifth largest economies in the world, the UK and Japan are focused on driving growth, creating highly skilled jobs and ensuring we remain technology superpowers,” Johnson said ahead of the visit.
“The visit of Prime Minister Kishida will accelerate our close defence relationship and build on our trade partnership to boost major infrastructure projects across the country”.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement will allow Japanese and British forces to deploy together to carry out training and joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific, in what the UK government says is the first deal of its type with a European country.
The two countries already enjoy deep security ties, with Tokyo’s ambassador to Australia, Yamagami Shingo, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that he hoped plans for Japan to join the Five Eyes intelligence alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, would “become reality in the near future”.
The UK, Australia and the United States last September announced a new military alliance — AUKUS — to counter a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region.
London, shorn of its European obligations now it is no longer a member of the EU, is increasingly looking to the region for post-Brexit trade opportunities.
The UK last February applied for membership of the 11-nation Asia-Pacific free trade bloc, and in October 2020 signed a free trade deal with Japan.
Talks in London are also expected to focus on the war in Ukraine, “and how international alliances can continue to exert maximum pressure on President Putin’s regime,” said Downing Street.
Russia on Wednesday banned entry to several dozen Japanese officials, including Kishida, after it joined international sanctions against the Kremlin.
Johnson and Kishida — both former foreign ministers — will also tackle Asia’s transition to green energy in a bid to wean the continent off Russian oil and gas.
Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
|
|
Tweet |
|
|
|
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook – our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don’t have a paywall – with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution. |
||
|
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal |
 |
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only |
Ukraine says Russia planning WWII parade in Mariupol
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) May 4, 2022
Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russia of planning to hold a military parade in the captured city of Mariupol on May 9 to celebrate victory over the Nazis in World War II.
Kyiv said an official from Russia’s presidential administration had arrived in the strategic southern port city, which has been largely destroyed in Russia’s more than two-month invasion of Ukraine, to oversee plans for the Victory Day parade.
“Mariupol will become a centre of ‘celebration,'” Ukraine’s military intelligence said … read more
