Meetings and Conferences by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi
Japan-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting
March 7, 2025
On March 7th, commencing at 5:50 p.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, 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, who is visiting Japan. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Iwaya stated that he is pleased to welcome Secretary Lammy, and that he looked forward to taking this opportunity to have a candid exchange of views on security cooperation between Japan and the UK, and on regional affairs, such as the situation in Ukraine ahead of the Japan-UK Economic 2+2 Ministers’ Meeting (“Economic 2+2”). Secretary Lammy replied that he was pleased to visit Japan to participate in the first-ever Economic 2+2, and that Japanese companies have made significant investments in the UK, and that there is also close cooperation in the area of security, which he hopes to continue to promote.
- Regarding the situation in Ukraine, Minister Iwaya stated that, it is important for both countries to work together to ensure that diplomatic efforts by each country lead to achieving a just and lasting peace. The two Ministers concurred to continue to exchange views on this matter between Japan and the UK.
- The two Ministers welcomed the UK's presence in the Indo-Pacific, and the many opportunities for security cooperation between Japan and the UK this year, including the UK’s Carrier Strike Group’s port call to Japan. The two Ministers also concurred to support each other’s efforts regarding the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as diplomatic authorities, towards the in-service date of 2035. Furthermore, the two Ministers concurred to coordinate at the working-level to have the next meeting of the Japan-UK Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting ("2+2") in the UK.
- The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional affairs. In order to further strengthen Japan-UK collaboration on the Middle East, the two Ministers welcomed the recently launched Japan-UK Director-Generals’ Dialogue on Middle Eastern Affairs, and concurred to continue to work closely together, including through this dialogue. The two Ministers exchanged their views on situations in the Indo-Pacific, such as China and policies towards North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues and abductions issue. The two Ministers also concurred that Japan and the UK will continue to work closely together on various challenges facing the international community and cooperation with the Global South.