STORY
On 10 April 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a phone call to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, focusing on trade, defence, and global security. Both leaders emphasised the importance of a pragmatic approach to international trade, agreeing that trade wars are detrimental to global economic stability. They committed to working together to lower trade barriers, both bilaterally and through multilateral frameworks like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), aiming to accelerate economic growth.
In the realm of defence and security, Starmer and Ishiba welcomed progress on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), reaffirming their commitment to developing the next generation of fighter jets. They also discussed enhancing cooperation to address regional and global security challenges. Prime Minister Starmer extended his best wishes for the upcoming Osaka Expo, highlighting the UK’s pavilion focused on innovation as a testament to the strong UK-Japan relationship. Additionally, he thanked Prime Minister Ishiba for Japan’s support for the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine.