Why was PM Keir Starmer in Japan?

SOURCE: BBC Politics

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first major tour of Asia, culminating in a three-day visit to Tokyo, was far more than a diplomatic photo opportunity. It represented a calculated and crucial mission to solidify the United Kingdom's economic and security future, anchoring it firmly in the Indo-Pacific.

The trip was not about forging a single new treaty, but about the critical work of implementation. With the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) now three years in the past, Starmer's agenda was clear: to translate paper agreements into tangible economic growth, secure vital Japanese investment, and deepen a strategic alliance in an increasingly volatile world.

The Economic Imperative: Trade and Investment

At the core of the visit was a powerful economic reality: in a post-Brexit world, Japan is an indispensable partner for the UK. The Prime Minister's delegation, which included senior business leaders from the technology and green energy sectors, focused on moving the UK-Japan relationship from agreement to action.

The goal is to maximise the benefits of existing frameworks, including the CPTPP and the bilateral UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

• CPTPP Maximisation: With the UK now a full member of the 12-nation trade bloc, Downing Street is pushing to unlock its full potential. Discussions centered on cutting remaining non-tariff barriers for UK exports, particularly in the agri-food sector. The aim is to boost sales of iconic British products like Scotch whisky, Welsh lamb, and Stilton cheese in Japan’s high-value market.

• Digital and Services Trade: A key focus was the 2022 UK-Japan Digital Partnership. Both governments are seeking to establish a global gold standard for digital trade, ensuring the free flow of data while maintaining high standards of personal data protection. For the UK’s world-leading services sector—spanning finance, law, and consulting—this is a multi-billion-pound priority.

A Charm Offensive for Investment

Beyond trade, the visit was a charm offensive aimed at securing and expanding Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) into the UK. Japanese companies are among the largest investors and employers in Britain, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

After years of economic uncertainty, Mr. Starmer’s message was one of stability, long-term vision, and partnership, especially in high-growth industries.

• Automotive Transition: The Prime Minister held direct talks with executives from Toyota and Nissan. The conversation was dominated by the UK's transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Starmer sought to provide assurances on the UK's industrial strategy, energy costs, and the development of battery gigafactories—all critical factors for securing the future of Japanese car manufacturing in Britain.

• Green Energy Revolution: A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to green technology. The UK, a leader in offshore wind, and Japan, a pioneer in hydrogen technology, see immense potential for collaboration. Discussions included joint ventures in floating offshore wind farms and the development of green hydrogen supply chains, aligning with Labour’s domestic energy security and net-zero ambitions.

• Infrastructure and Technology: The Prime Minister highlighted major UK infrastructure projects as prime opportunities for firms like Hitachi, which is already a key player in the UK rail network. The government is also keen to attract more venture capital from Japanese giants like SoftBank to fuel the UK's burgeoning AI and life sciences sectors.

Beyond Business: The Strategic Alliance

The trip's agenda extended well beyond the boardroom. The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, shaped by China's growing assertiveness, has made the UK-Japan security partnership more vital than ever.

Building on the foundation of the 2023 Hiroshima Accord and the landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which facilitates joint military exercises, the leaders discussed concrete steps to enhance their defence and security cooperation.

• Defence Cooperation: The primary focus was on implementing the RAA. This includes planning more complex joint army, navy, and air force drills. The centrepiece of this collaboration is the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint project with Italy and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter jet, which represents the future of the three nations' defence industrial base.

• Economic Security: A modern and pressing concern, economic security was a key theme. The leaders discussed strategies to build resilient supply chains for critical goods like semiconductors and rare earth minerals, explicitly aiming to reduce dependency on any single country. This involves coordinating on investment screening and protecting critical national infrastructure from potentially hostile actors.

• Cyber and Maritime Security: As two island nations with advanced economies, the UK and Japan face shared threats in the cyber and maritime domains. The talks included commitments to increase intelligence sharing on cyber threats and to coordinate patrols in key international shipping lanes, such as the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, to uphold freedom of navigation.

What Comes Next?

Prime Minister Starmer returns to London not with a new headline deal, but with something potentially more valuable: strengthened commitments on the detailed, complex work of turning strategic goals into reality.

The success of this visit will not be measured by the closing communiqué, but by data points in the months and years to come: an increase in UK service exports to Japan, confirmed investment in UK gigafactories, and the frequency and complexity of joint military exercises in the Pacific.

Ultimately, the trip sent an unambiguous signal. For the Starmer government, the "Indo-Pacific tilt" is not just a legacy policy to be maintained, but a core pillar of Britain's global strategy to be actively and urgently pursued. This visit has cemented Japan's role as the UK’s principal partner in that endeavour.