(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
From July 19 to today, July 21, I visited the U.K. for the first time since assuming office as Defense Minister. During this visit, I attended the Farnborough International Airshow and visited a British Armed Forces unit. In addition, I held Japan-Italy, Japan-U.K.-Italy, and Japan-U.K.-Italy-Canada quadrilateral defense ministerial meetings. I once again welcome Canada’s participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as an observer as was just announced. First, at yesterday’s Farnborough International Airshow, I delivered a keynote address in which I presented the Government of Japan’s policy and highlighted the strengths of Japan’s defense industry and technology bases to foreign governments and company representatives. I also toured the GCAP pavilion and the booths of Japanese companies and conveyed words of encouragement to everyone involved. I am delighted that many Japanese companies are exhibiting at the Farnborough International Airshow. The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) exhibited at this exhibition for the first time. Through public-private partnership, Japan will continue to further advance defense equipment and technology cooperation with various countries, such as through disseminating information at international defense exhibitions. Yesterday, I also visited HMNB Portsmouth. Escorted by Royal Navy personnel, I toured the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, which was moored at the base, and was guided to the tip of the ski jump used for launching fighter aircraft. Furthermore, I received an explanation of an unscrewed surface vessel known as Project Beehive and a briefing on the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Navy concept and other initiatives. This naval base is the home port for HMS Queen Elizabeth, which made a port call in my hometown of Yokosuka in 2021 and which I toured yesterday, as well as HMS Prince of Wales, which made port calls in Yokosuka and Tokyo last year. During the exchange of views, Japan and the U.K. concurred to continue cooperating closely, recognizing that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and that of the Indo-Pacific is inseparable. Today, I held a Japan-Italy defense ministerial meeting with Italian Minister of Defence Crosetto. At the meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to closely working together toward the success of GCAP and concurred to further advance Japan-Italy defense cooperation, including service-to-service exchanges and defense equipment and technology cooperation. Additionally, I held a Japan-U.K.-Italy-Canada defense ministerial meeting with U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Streeting shortly following the inauguration of its new government, Italian Defence Minister Crosetto, and Canadian Minister of National Defence McGuinty, and we announced Canada’s participation as an observer in GCAP. It was Day 1 for Secretary Streeting and Day 1 of Canada’s participation as an observer. What an outstanding day. Through Canada’s involvement, we expect that it will support greater alignment of the strategic priorities of Japan, the U.K., Italy, and Canada and deepen mutual understanding of future combat air capabilities. China and Russia are conducting a joint flight around Japan, in the midst of which a Chinese vessel conducted live-fire exercises within Japan’s EEZ. I briefed the three countries on this matter as well. At the Japan-U.K.-Italy defense ministerial meeting that followed, we welcomed the achievement of significant milestones through the conclusion of contracts between the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) established by the three governments and its corresponding private-sector entity, the joint venture Edgewing, in April and July this year, respectively. The three Ministers also welcomed Canada’s participation as an observer and confirmed their commitment to working closely together to make the programme even better, taking also into account wider cooperation with other countries. This visit to the U.K., including attending the Farnborough International Airshow, was highly meaningful as it allowed me to confirm with the U.K. and Italy our commitment to further advancing defense cooperation, including GCAP, based on the recognition that the security of the Indo-Pacific and that of the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable. The visit will also allow Japan to further promote security cooperation with like-minded partners in Europe. I will now travel to France and hold a meeting with Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Vautrin in Paris. I will then head to Belgium and hold a meeting with NATO Secretary General Rutte. Through candid exchanges of views with defense ministers, I will make continued efforts to ensure that this was a meaningful visit by further developing defense cooperation with like-minded partners and others toward maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. That concludes my opening remarks.