Japan and Britain to Enhance Bilateral Security Cooperation

Japan and Britain will be enhancing their bilateral security cooperation on April 8, by reviewing their 'action plan' to include the development of a new type of medium-range missile.

Sources say the two countries will come to an agreement at a 'two-plus-two' meeting of their foreign and defense ministers. Moreover, it will be the first time for Japan and Britain to hold a two-plus-two meeting since 2017. The action plan, on security cooperation was formulated when Japan and Britain had held their third two-plus-two talks in the same year.

According to sources, the action plan includes cooperative measures in a number of fields including those related to technical collaboration in defence equipment and international peace cooperation activities. However, the two nations will be reviewing the plan for the first time.

"Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya are to have talks with the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson at the meeting," say sources.

Furthermore, the two countries are expected to newly specify in the plan the test-firing of a new type of medium-range missile in fiscal 2023. Sources say that since 2014, Britain and Japan have been jointly developing a new air-to-air missile, equipped with Japan's sensor technology, to be carried on state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighter jets.