The British Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that diplomat Corin Robertson has been appointed as the United Kingdom's next ambassador to Japan, succeeding Julia Longbottom. She is scheduled to take up the post in August. Robertson expressed enthusiasm for strengthening ties with Japan.
The British Foreign Ministry announced on February 5, 2026, that diplomat Corin Robertson has been appointed as the next ambassador to Japan, succeeding Julia Longbottom. She is set to assume the role in August.
Robertson joined the Foreign Ministry in 1994, underwent Japanese language training, and served as a second secretary at the British Embassy in Tokyo from 1997 to 2000. She later held positions as ambassador to Mexico from 2018 to 2021 and director-general for finance and corporate services at the ministry from 2023 to 2025.
In a Japanese-language post on X on Wednesday, Robertson said, "I am looking forward to being able to return to Japan as ambassador." She added that "Japan is an indispensable like-minded country for Britain" and that she would "make sincere efforts" to further develop the relationship between the two countries.
This appointment comes amid efforts to strengthen the UK-Japan alliance. The two nations have deepened cooperation in security and economic areas, and Robertson's prior experience in Japan is expected to contribute to future diplomacy.
