Japanese, British PMs Call for Stable Energy, Mineral Supplies

London, June 14 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her British counterpart, Keir Starmer, released a joint declaration on economic security cooperation on Sunday, calling for stable energy and mineral supplies amid the turmoil in the Middle East and China’s increasing influence. The declaration highlighted the risks that the Middle East turmoil poses to the global economy and the need for international cooperation, including oil stockpiling and collaboration between oil-producing and -consuming countries. In light of China’s export restrictions on rare earths, the declaration expressed “grave concerns regarding economic coercion and arbitrary export restrictions, including on critical minerals, that destabilize global supply chains and undermine economic security and resilience.” Takaichi and Starmer also issued a Frontier Technology Partnership joint document to promote collaboration on advanced technologies. At their meeting in London on the day, the two leaders agreed to continue advancing the Japan-Britain-Italy joint development of a next-generation fighter jet, amid concerns that Britain’s fiscal difficulties could derail the project. They also agreed to further strengthen defense industry cooperation. Takaichi said that Japan and Britain have reached the level of quasi-allies and that she aims to further elevate the bilateral relationship. Starmer welcomed close cooperative ties with Japan. After the meeting, they held a business roundtable with Japanese and British business representatives. Japan’s Rapidus Corp., which aims to start mass-producing cutting-edge semiconductors, signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.K. Semiconductor Center, a British public organization, for research and development cooperation. The leaders also confirmed that the security of the Euro-Atlantic region and that of the Indo-Pacific region are close and inseparable and reaffirmed their commitment to stabilizing the situations in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, Takaichi visited Westminster Abbey in central London and laid a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Soldier to honor British soldiers killed in World War I. Takaichi arrived in Britain aboard a chartered plane on Saturday for her first trip to the country since taking office last October. She traveled to Italy the following day. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]