Sunak announces alliance with Japan on defence and science projects

Hiroshima Accord will increase co-operation between armed forces, grow economies and develop science and technology expertise, Mr Sunak says

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, on May 16. AFP

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday trumpeted a new accord with Japan to deepen Britain's economic and defence ties with the host of this year's G7 summit.

Amid growing concerns about China, Mr Sunak has promised to send a naval battle fleet to the Indo-Pacific region in 2025 and to double UK troop numbers in coming joint exercises.

Before attending the G7 summit in Hiroshima, he will also agree to a partnership with Japan on semiconductors to reduce reliance on Beijing for supply of microchips.

Mr Sunak is hosting a business reception for companies such as Nissan and Toshiba with Japanese investors committing almost £18 billion ($22.4 billion) of investment, the UK government said.

Toshiba is expected to expand its operations at a laboratory in Cambridge, England, while Sumitomo Electric Industries is planning to make high-voltage electric cable in the Scottish Highlands.

Mr Sunak touted the investments as a "massive vote of confidence in the UK’s dynamic economy, from some of Japan’s top firms".

The so-called Hiroshima Accord was negotiated before a meeting between Mr Sunak and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of the meeting of world leaders.

The business reception was taking place in the Roppongi Hills of Tokyo.

Mr Sunak will share talks with world leaders including Joe Biden during the summit, which is expected to focus on economic security and support for Ukraine.

He will not hold personal bilateral talks with Mr Biden, but will with Mr Kishida, French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Sunak will be joined by his wife Akshata Murty, who will join the G7’s “partners’ programme” on her first official foreign visit since they entered No 10 Downing Street.

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Under the agreement with Japan, Mr Sunak is committing to sending the Navy’s carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific.

Including an aircraft carrier and fighter jets, the fleet will work with the Japanese military and other allies to defend peace and stability in the region.

A fourth UK-Japan “vigilant isles” military exercise taking place in Japan this year is being billed as the biggest yet and will include about 170 UK service personnel.

The UK and Japan are also expected to commit to consulting each other on key regional and global security issues and to consider measures in response.

The aim of the semiconductors partnership is to make use of British expertise and Japanese materials to bolster supplies.

A new cyber partnership will be announced, as will plans to accelerate the use of clean energy.

On the plane to Tokyo, Mr Sunak told reporters one of his priorities for the summit was ensuring “we as G7 allies, are aligned in our approach to protecting ourselves against the risks and challenges that China poses”.

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“It is a privilege to be visiting Tokyo and Hiroshima at this historic moment in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Japan," he said in a statement.

“Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and defending our values, including free and fair trade.

“The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up co-operation between our armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our world-leading science and technology expertise.

“It marks an exciting next phase in the UK and Japan’s flourishing partnership.”

The trip takes place as Mr Sunak struggles with Tory infighting heightened by the party’s large-scale losses in local elections.

At the G7 summit starting on Friday, Mr Sunak will discuss shoring up support for Ukraine and holding Russia to account for its actions among his priorities.

He will reflect on the “sombre reminder of the human cost of all-out war” while visiting Hiroshima, where he will plant a tree to remember victims of the atomic bomb in 1945.

“The visit is a crucial opportunity to build our relationship with Japan, already one of the UK’s strongest and most important partners," Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said.

“The summit is an opportunity for the G7 to demonstrate unified resolve and action in the face of threats from autocratic states – threats to global prosperity, security and sovereignty.”