Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Summit Telephone Talk
February 16, 2022
On February 16, commencing at 6:12 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone talk with the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- The two leaders affirmed their consistent support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity while monitoring the situation around Ukraine with grave concern, and they confirmed that they would not accept any unilateral change in the status quo by force, and continue diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and continually work closely together.
- The two leaders also affirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in promoting a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", as well as in the field of security and defence, including negotiations on the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement and defence equipment and technology transfer cooperation.
- In addition, Prime Minister Kishida called for progress in the process toward the lifting of the UK’s import measures on Japanese food regarding radionuclides. In response, Prime Minister Johnson stated that the progress was being made.