Key facts
- Japanese Ambassador to the UK Hiroshi Suzuki emphasized the strong and growing relationship between Japan and the UK.
- Suzuki highlighted the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint development with Italy, as a key area of cooperation.
- Japan has provided £14.5 billion in aid to Ukraine.
- The UK has committed £8.6 billion over the next four years to defence investment.
- A £4.6 billion contract was signed on July 3 for the GCAP project.
- Japan and the UK have agreed to cooperate on economic security and frontier technology.
Japanese Ambassador to the UK, Hiroshi Suzuki, has expressed his commitment to nurturing the bilateral relationship, particularly highlighting cooperation on security and technology. On the anniversary of VJ Day, Suzuki reflected on Japan's journey as a peace-loving nation and its efforts towards reconciliation with the UK. He noted that current international events, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscore the importance of peace and stability, referencing Japan's provision of £14.5 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Suzuki emphasized the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint initiative with the UK and Italy to develop the next-generation combat air system, as a significant step in strengthening ties. He described GCAP as a new model for cross-regional security cooperation, designed with a flexible software and hardware platform and ensuring interoperability with the US. Canada has also shown interest in participating as an observer. The program aims for the first fighter aircraft to be deployed by 2035. This initiative is supported by the UK's commitment of £8.6 billion over the next four years, and a £4.6 billion contract was recently signed with Edgewing, the international joint venture for GCAP.
Further underscoring the close relationship, Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi visited the UK in July for GCAP-related engagements, including attending the Farnborough Airshow and a trilateral meeting with his British and Italian counterparts. Suzuki also pointed to agreements on economic security and frontier technology reached during Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to the UK in June. Looking ahead, Suzuki expressed anticipation for enhanced Japan-UK cooperation during the UK's upcoming hosting of the G20 and G7 summits, pledging his full effort to foster these ties.