Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has invited Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, to visit the UK following talks in Tokyo, describing UK–Japan relations as the strongest they have been in decades.
The meeting came at the end of Sir Keir’s East Asia tour, which included a four-day visit to China aimed at resetting relations with Beijing.
During their discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, both leaders reaffirmed shared democratic values and agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, security and defence.
Sir Keir said the two countries had a clear interest in free and predictable trade, with plans to strengthen supply chains in key areas such as critical minerals. Defence cooperation, including joint military exercises and the trilateral fighter jet programme involving the UK, Japan and Italy, also featured prominently.
The talks took place against the backdrop of regional tensions, particularly concerns over China and Taiwan. Sir Keir said both leaders agreed on the need to respond with strength and clarity to growing global instability and praised Japan’s support for Ukraine.
Any visit by Prime Minister Takaichi to the UK will depend on the outcome of Japan’s snap elections scheduled for February 8. Japan remains one of Britain’s largest investors outside Europe, and Sir Keir said his Tokyo stop underlined the UK’s commitment to regional security while balancing engagement with China.
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