Key Facts
• August 23: Prime Minister Ishiba visited the Yokosuka Naval Base.
• Inspected Japan’s largest destroyer, ‘Kaga,’ undergoing conversion to an aircraft carrier.
• Reviewed upgraded flight deck for F-35B stealth fighter operations and helicopter hangars.
• Boarded the UK Royal Navy aircraft carrier ‘Prince of Wales,’ docked in Japan.
• Highlighted unprecedented Japan-UK defense cooperation in personnel, training, space, cyber, and technology.
• First time a Japanese Prime Minister boarded a UK carrier strike group vessel in Japan.
• Emphasized strengthened regional security through Japan-UK collaboration.
Summary
On August 23, Prime Minister Ishiba visited the Yokosuka Naval Base to inspect the destroyer ‘Kaga,’ Japan’s largest vessel being converted into an aircraft carrier. He reviewed its upgraded flight deck, enabling F-35B stealth fighter operations, and its helicopter hangars. Ishiba also boarded the UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier ‘Prince of Wales,’ marking the first time a Japanese Prime Minister has done so. He emphasized that Japan-UK defense cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, encompassing personnel exchanges, joint training, and advancements in space, cyber, and defense technology. Ishiba underscored the importance of this collaboration in bolstering regional security.
