Report: Japan, UK to sign military reciprocal access deal

Japanese flags are displayed along a shopping street, Jan 3, 2023, in Tokyo. (EUGENE HOSHIKO / AP)

TOKYO – Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will sign a reciprocal access agreement for military officers with British counterpart Rishi Sunak next week, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday.

Fumio Kishida is set to visit the United Kingdom on Jan 10-11, during a tour to Group of Seven countries that includes France, Italy, Canada and the United States

The agreement, which relaxes immigration controls for military officers, aims to strengthen security ties between the two countries to counter rising threats, Yomiuri said, citing multiple unnamed government sources.

Japan, Britain and Italy last month announced a joint project to develop next-generation jet fighters, marking Japan's first major industrial defense collaboration beyond the United States since World War II.

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Kishida is set to visit the United Kingdom on Jan 10-11, during a tour to Group of Seven countries that includes France, Italy, Canada and the United States.