Image Credits - BBC
The foreign and defense ministers of Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy have reached an agreement to commence a series of measures aimed at intensifying their defense cooperation. The objective is to collaboratively develop a sixth-generation fighter jet by the year 2035.
The three countries aim to formalize their collaboration by signing a treaty to establish a joint development organization. Following the meetings on November 7th in Tokyo, the foreign and defense ministers of the UK and Japan agreed to enhance bilateral relations and defense cooperation through the joint development project and future collaborative exercises. They collectively decided that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces would engage in more frequent, complex, and advanced exercises in collaboration with the British armed forces.
The ministers concentrated on the Global Combat Air Programme project, a collaborative effort involving Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet by the year 2035. They initiated the project by establishing the groundwork for signing a treaty. It is anticipated that all parties involved will sign the treaty before the year ends.
Alongside the treaty, the Reciprocal Access Agreement is currently in effect and will facilitate more intricate and advanced exercises between Japan and the UK. This agreement enhances the cooperative framework for military activities between the two nations.
A significant milestone for the Philippines within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries was being the first to establish the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan demonstrating a strengthened and unique defense collaboration between the two nations.
These agreements hold the potential to significantly boost military cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations among the countries involved. For Japan, it presents an opportunity to revitalize and enhance its SDF, fostering a more robust and capable defense framework.