UK, Japan Sign Historic Defence Pact Allowing Reciprocal Military Access

UK, Japan Sign Historic Defence Pact Allowing Reciprocal Military Access
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands at the start of a bilateral meeting at the Tower of London on Jan. 11, 2023. Carl Court/Getty Images
Alexander Zhang
Updated:

Britain and Japan have signed a defence agreement to allow the two countries to deploy military forces in one another’s territories, making the UK the first European country to have a reciprocal access agreement with Japan.

Downing Street called the pact—signed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in London on Jan. 11—the most important defence treaty between London and Tokyo since 1902.