Key Facts
• Japan’s Defense Minister Nakatani met UK Defense Minister Healy on August 28, 2025.
• Both emphasized Japan-UK defense cooperation reaching a ‘new dimension.’
• A joint statement was issued, marking the first of its kind between the two nations.
• UK’s largest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, docked in Tokyo the same afternoon.
• This marks the first UK carrier visit to Japan in four years, since 2021.
• The carrier will be open to the public over the weekend.
• Japan applied the Self-Defense Forces Act’s ‘Armed Equipment Protection’ to UK forces for the first time.
• The move aims to strengthen Japan-UK ties and counter China’s and Russia’s regional pressures.
Summary
Japan and the UK have elevated their defense cooperation to a new level, as confirmed during a meeting between Japan’s Defense Minister Nakatani and UK Defense Minister Healy on August 28, 2025. A joint statement, the first between the two nations, was issued to highlight this milestone. On the same day, the UK’s largest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, arrived in Tokyo, marking its first visit to Japan in four years. The carrier will be open to the public over the weekend. Japan also applied the Self-Defense Forces Act’s ‘Armed Equipment Protection’ to UK forces for the first time, showcasing strengthened bilateral ties. This collaboration aims to counter regional pressures from China and Russia.
