British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Photo: CollectedTOKYO, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Britain and Japan agreed to strengthendefence and economic ties, visiting Prime Minister Keir Starmer said onSaturday, after his bid to forge closer links with China drew warnings fromUS President Donald Trump. Starmer noted that Japan and Britain were the leading economies in a trans-Pacific that includes fellow G7 member Canada, as well as other internationaltrade and defence pacts. Tokyo's ties with Beijing have deteriorated since Takaichi suggested inNovember that Japan could intervene militarily during a potential attack onTaiwan. Britain, Japan and Italy are also developing a new fighter jet after Tokyorelied for decades on the United States for military hardware.
