The Ministry of Defence announced the commencement of Exercise Vigilant Isles in Japan today, involving over 100 British troops, alongside a high-level meeting between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in London.
According to the release, these efforts underscore the UK’s commitment to Indo-Pacific security and its expanding partnership with Japan.
The exercise, now in its third year, sees members of the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade training with the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces on Kyushu. It aims to enhance interoperability and demonstrates the UK’s unique position as the only European nation conducting bilateral military training on Japanese soil.
Defence Secretary Healey highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating: “There are many miles between our two nations, but the UK and Japan stand closer together than ever in support of peace and security across the globe.”
The meeting also marked progress on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint venture between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a next-generation stealth fighter jet. The headquarters for this groundbreaking initiative, known as the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), will be based in Reading, the Defence Secretary confirmed.
Led by Japan’s Oka Masami, the headquarters will strengthen the combat air industrial capabilities of all three nations and support thousands of skilled jobs in the UK.
“Today, Minister Nakatani and I have highlighted the positive progress being made on our important next-generation fighter jet programme,” Healey added. The GCAP programme already employs over 3,500 people across the UK, and the joint venture, involving BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd, will further bolster the country’s industrial and economic capabilities.
The UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, will visit Japan later this year as part of the UK’s flagship 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment. The group will conduct operations and exercises with Japanese Self Defence Forces and other regional allies, including a port visit in Japan. This follows the successful deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region in 2021, as well as ongoing maritime security operations by Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tamar and HMS Spey.
Healey stressed the growing strategic alignment between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, stating: “With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan.”
Maybe they could build another railway together !!! 🤷🤦♂️