Japan-United Kingdom Relations
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
July 26, 2024
On July 26, commencing at 5:30p.m. (local time: 7:30p.m. JST) for approximately 40 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Laos to attend ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, held a meeting with the Rt Hon David LAMMY, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Kamikawa reconveyed her congratulations on Foreign Secretary Lammy’s appointment and stated that she was pleased with the close collaboration with the new UK government, including at the leaders’ level. Minister Kamikawa also expressed her desire to further develop the robust Japan-UK relations, by addressing the challenges of the international community through further collaboration bilaterally and among the G7 as well as by further promoting the cooperative relationship building on to the achievements to date including the “Japan-UK Hiroshima Accord”. Foreign Secretary Lammy replied that he welcomed the first in-person meeting, and he would like to collaborate with Minister Kamikawa to strengthen the Japan-UK relations.
- The two Ministers concurred the security of the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic are inseparable and the cooperation between Japan and the UK, which share strategic interests, is critical, and reaffirmed that they continue to promote concrete security cooperation, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Furthermore, in the economic area, the two Ministers concurred to promote coordination in the CPTPP and encourage cooperation between business sectors.
- The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional affairs. They exchanged views on the situations in Ukraine and East Asia such as dealing with North Korea, including the abductions issue, and confirmed their close collaboration.