British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, where the two nations agreed to strengthen defense and economic ties. The agreement came after Starmer's visit to China, which had drawn warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. Both leaders emphasized building an even deeper partnership in the coming years.
On February 1, 2026, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Tokyo following a four-day visit to China, where he sought to build closer links in a manner similar to other Western leaders aiming to counter an increasingly volatile United States.
After a bilateral meeting in the Japanese capital, Starmer announced alongside Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Britain and Japan had agreed to strengthen their defense and economic ties. "We set out a clear priority to build an even deeper partnership in the years to come," Starmer said.
He highlighted that Japan and Britain are leading economies in the trans-Pacific region, which includes fellow Group of Seven member Canada and other international trade and defense pacts. The agreement follows Starmer's efforts to forge ties with China, which prompted warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump.
This development underscores the two nations' commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade and defense amid rising geopolitical tensions. The meeting marks a significant step in bolstering U.K.-Japan relations.
