Press Releases
Commencement of negotiations on the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement
September 28, 2021
- The Government of Japan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) have exchanged views on an arrangement that would reciprocally improve policy, legal and administrative procedures for joint operations, exercises and activities between the forces of both countries. In order to realise this arrangement as the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement (Japan-UK RAA), we will commence formal negotiations between the two countries for the conclusion of the agreement.
- Japan and the UK are global strategic partners who share fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law and are each other’s closest security partners in their respective regions. Both countries wish to further strengthen cooperation towards realising a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. Japan-UK RAA is a legal framework that further elevates the Japan-UK security and defence cooperation and contributes, through the conclusion of the agreement, to reinforce the continuous commitment of both countries to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, in particular by enhancing interoperability and collaboration between the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the British Armed Forces.
- The Government of Japan and the Government of the UK will work on the negotiations in order to realise the early conclusion. The first round of negotiations will take place on October 7.