British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer concluded his East Asian diplomatic tour with significant talks in Tokyo, extending a formal invitation to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for a UK visit. The meeting, described by Starmer as reflecting the strongest bilateral relationship in decades, focused on reinforcing shared democratic values and expanding cooperation in defense and trade.
The discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office addressed growing global instability, with both leaders emphasizing the necessity of responding with strength and clarity. Starmer specifically acknowledged Japan’s steadfast support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts. The dialogue also covered plans to enhance security collaboration, including the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Italy and joint military exercises across the Indo-Pacific region.
Trade relations formed another critical pillar of the talks, with both nations committing to improve supply chain resilience in strategic sectors like critical minerals. Starmer highlighted the mutual interest in maintaining free and predictable trade frameworks between the world’s sixth and fourth largest economies.
The timing of the visit carries significant political implications, occurring just days before Japan’s snap elections on February 8. Political analysts note the meeting provides Takaichi’s Liberal Democrat party with valuable diplomatic visibility during the campaign period. The Tokyo stopover follows Starmer’s four-day China visit that yielded tangible outcomes including tariff reductions on whisky, visa-free travel agreements, and £2.2 billion in export deals.
Regional security concerns formed an undercurrent to the discussions, particularly following Takaichi’s recent comments regarding potential Japanese involvement in China-Taiwan conflicts that drew sharp criticism from Beijing. Both leaders avoided explicit mention of these tensions during their public appearances, instead emphasizing their shared commitment to regional stability through strengthened defense partnerships.
The successful diplomatic mission marks Britain’s continued reengagement with East Asian powers, balancing economic opportunities with China against security partnerships with regional allies like Japan.