Japan, UK to enhance operational cooperation

In the first ever UK-Japan defence ministerial meeting, the two ministries agreed to enhance operational cooperation, the UK government announced on 21 January.

The meeting involved UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon along with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani.

The ministers shared the view that the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) is an important pillar in the framework of security cooperation between the two countries. They instructed that the ACSA be concluded as early as possible.

The ministers welcomed the identification and launch of joint defence equipment and technology projects, based on the agreement on the transfer of arms and military technologies, including cooperative research projects on chemical and biological protection technology, and on the feasibility of a joint new air to air missile.

The ministers decided to pursue other cooperation projects through the UK-Japan defence equipment and technology cooperation steering panel. They decided to examine the opportunities and develop proposals for a programme of joint training and exercises between their respective armed forces. These could be conducted in such areas as peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, non-combatant evacuation operations and the provision of airlift. To that end, the Ministers decided to increase contacts and exchanges by defence and security staff and academics.