Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
February 21, 2024
On February 21, commencing at 18:00 p.m. (local time; 6:00 a.m. on February 22 JST) for about 40 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Rio de Janeiro to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held a meeting with the Rt Hon David CAMERON, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, stating her pleasure at meeting Foreign Secretary Cameron again since 2017, Minister Kamikawa expressed her gratitude for the messages of sympathy from the UK in the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake and wished the speedy recovery of His Majesty King Charles III. Furthermore, she stated that she would like to further strengthen cooperation with the UK to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law as well as to ensure human dignity, in the face of growing division and confrontation in the international community.
- The two Ministers concurred to follow up on the “Japan-UK Hiroshima Accord” concurred between the Prime Ministers of both countries last year. From this perspective, Minister Kamikawa stated that she welcomed the UK’s announcement of its Carrier Strike Group’s port visit to Japan next year. The two Ministers affirmed to closely collaborate in a wide range of fields including security and economy.
- The two Ministers exchanged views on regional situation and concurred to continue strong support for Ukraine and severe sanctions against Russia. In addition, the two Ministers exchanged views on the situations in the Middle East and East Asia such as dealing with North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and concurred to coordinate closely.