British Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps, left, and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, second left, join hands with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, second right, and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, right, prior to their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday. By MARI YAMAGUCHIJapanese and British foreign and defense ministers met Tuesday to discuss deeper military cooperation under a new security pact that allows their militaries to enter each other’s territory for joint exercises. Japan and Britain have expanded their cooperation in recent years as concern has grown over China’s increasing influence. Japan, whose only treaty ally is the United States, has signed Reciprocal Access Agreements with Australia and the UK, making them semi-allies. The talks in Tokyo among Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps are the first since the RAA took effect in mid-October.

Source: New York Times November 07, 2023 15:31 UTC