Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Sanae Takaichi set out a focused UK–Japan agenda in Tokyo on 31 January 2026, confirming a Strategic Cyber Partnership, new work on a clean energy partnership, and joint support for CPTPP institutions and future accessions. Downing Street also underlined Japan’s position as the UK’s largest inward investor outside the US and Europe, linked to around 150,000 UK jobs, alongside a commitment to closer security cooperation across the Euro‑Atlantic and Indo‑Pacific. (gov.uk)
The Strategic Cyber Partnership launched during the visit sets a three‑pillar framework: deter and defend against cyber threats; raise whole‑of‑society resilience; and promote growth and innovation. It provides for expanded threat‑intelligence sharing, work on technical standards and international norms, protection of critical national infrastructure, coordinated attribution for malicious activity, and cooperation on skills. (gov.uk)
For UK operators in regulated sectors and critical infrastructure, the framework signals more formal channels for cross‑border incident support and information sharing, and closer alignment of risk management practices with Japan. It builds on earlier UK–Japan cyber arrangements, including the 2024 memorandum to strengthen public‑private cooperation and the cyber track established under the Hiroshima Accord. (gov.uk)
Defence industrial cooperation was reiterated, with both leaders pointing to the Global Combat Air Programme. In 2025 industry created ‘Edgewing’, a UK‑Italy‑Japan joint venture to design and deliver the next‑generation combat aircraft, and the programme’s international government organisation opened a joint headquarters in Reading. The industrial plan retains an in‑service target of 2035. (gov.uk)
Energy cooperation featured prominently. The UK highlighted scope to accelerate offshore wind deployment and to deepen collaboration on nuclear and fusion, with officials now tasked to scope a stronger bilateral clean energy partnership. This sits on top of the METI–DESNZ renewable energy partnership announced in May 2023 and the UK–Japan Industrial Strategy Partnership workplan agreed in September 2025, which lists clean energy as a priority area. (gov.uk)
On trade, both sides committed to a predictable rules‑based environment, including CPTPP stewardship and future accessions, and to explore closer coordination with the EU. The UK’s accession entered into force on 15 December 2024; government material indicates more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP members become tariff‑free as provisions take effect across parties. (gov.uk)
Supply‑chain security was singled out with an emphasis on critical minerals. The two countries already have a memorandum of cooperation to diversify and strengthen these supply chains, and since October 2024 UK Export Finance has been able to support overseas projects that supply critical minerals to UK industry-policy tools consistent with the leaders’ focus on resilience. (gov.uk)
The technology agenda will widen joint work on quantum, artificial intelligence, advanced connectivity and space. This direction aligns with the UK–Japan Digital Partnership reaffirmed in January 2025 and longer‑standing cooperation under the UK–Japan Joint Committee on Science and Technology, giving universities and firms clear routes into bilateral projects. (gov.uk)
Investment remains material to the relationship. Downing Street’s statement referenced the scale of Japanese investment in UK jobs; in 2025 the government announced a partnership aiming to facilitate up to £7.5 billion of Sumitomo‑backed investment into UK infrastructure and clean‑energy projects by 2035, underscoring the commercial pipeline that can flow from these policy frameworks. (gov.uk)
Immediate next steps include implementing the Strategic Cyber Partnership, defining the scope of the proposed clean‑energy partnership, and convening the UK–Japan Automotive Dialogue set out under the Industrial Strategy Partnership in early 2026. Starmer said he will host Takaichi at Chequers later this year. (gov.uk)