(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
January 15, 2025
Ministry of Defense
On January 15, commencing at 08:00 (local time) for approximately 75 minutes, Minister NAKATANI held a Defense Ministerial Meeting with Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon John Healey MP in London.
- At the beginning of the meeting, Minster Nakatani expressed his pleasure to hold the first Japan-UK Defense Ministerial Meeting with Secretary Healey, and both sides concurred to deepen bilateral cooperation as each other’s closest partners in Asia and Europe.
- The Ministers exchanged views on regional affairs and shared the recognition that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable. Also, Minister Nakatani welcomed the United Kingdom’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, including the deployment of the carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region this year, which Japan is included as one of the destinations.
- The Ministers welcomed the establishment of GIGO (GCAP International Government Organisation) last December, and exchanged views on the progress in the area of Japan-UK defense equipment and technology cooperation including GCAP, and concurred to further deepen cooperation. Furthermore, the Ministers concurred that AUKUS “Pillar 2” is important as it supports cooperation among ally and like-minded partners from advanced technologies, and to continue discussion on concrete cooperation.