Japan and the United Kingdom are moving to streamline immigration procedures for officials from both nations as part of expanding security cooperation. The plan involves an agreement that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to sign with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak next week, according to sources cited by Reuters from the Yomiuri Shimbun. The envisaged pact aims to reduce formal visa requirements for short visits by defense and security personnel, facilitating more frequent joint activities between the two allies. This development reflects a broader momentum to align regulatory frameworks to support interoperability in security missions and exercises, a step reported by Reuters from Tokyo.
Reuters notes that Kishida’s forthcoming UK visit will occur during Japan’s G7 outreach, scheduled for January 10–11 and spanning additional stops in France, Italy, Canada, and the United States. This itinerary underscores the emphasis Tokyo places on reinforcing ties with major partners ahead of the group’s upcoming agenda, with coordinated security and defense discussions likely to feature prominently during the trip.
Earlier reporting indicated that Tokyo and London are arranging a defense and security mutual access agreement intended to ease the conduct of joint exercises. The arrangement would permit participants to enter partner countries without needing visas for temporary stays and would streamline the importation of ammunition and related equipment for training and operations, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The agreement is designed to bolster real-time coordination and readiness among the two forces and to align procurement and logistics processes across borders.
Upon finalizing the treaty, the United Kingdom would become the second nation after Australia to sign such a framework with Japan, marking a notable expansion of bilateral defense cooperation. The practical effects are expected to include faster deployment of forces for shared training and greater access to installation and training facilities within each country, enabling more frequent cross-border exercises.
In parallel with the diplomatic push, Kishida is planning a January tour of Western partners that are integral to the G7 coalition focused on global economic and security collaboration. The schedule mirrors Tokyo’s aim to align with Western allies on a durable strategy for regional stability and collective defense commitments, reflecting long-standing defense diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Among the stops on Kishida’s Western itinerary is the United States, where White House officials have indicated that President Joe Biden will host the Japanese prime minister in Washington, with a meeting anticipated on January 13. The dialogue is expected to cover a wide range of topics, including regional security architecture, defense technology collaboration, and joint responses to shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Officials emphasize that the G7 session and related meetings in the spring summit hosted in Hiroshima will advance the alignment of Tokyo’s and its partners’ strategic priorities. The May gathering will serve as a milestone to review progress on defense and security cooperation, economic resilience, and coordinated responses to evolving geopolitical pressures. The overarching aim is to reinforce trust among allied democracies and to ensure readiness for a diverse set of security scenarios in the coming years.