The man responsible for protecting Japan’s security has delivered a stark warning to the world: time is running out to avert a major conflict. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Japan's defence minister said it is “critical to prevent war” as his nation and Britain forge a deeper security partnership.
Speaking from Tokyo, the minister pointed to rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the nuclear sabre-rattling from North Korea, and the growing assertiveness of China as reasons why Japan is urgently seeking closer military ties with the UK. A joint exercise involving British and Japanese forces is now being prepared, with the two countries set to hold regular drills on land, sea, and air.
“We cannot afford to be complacent,” the minister said. “The world is more dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War. We need to work with like-minded partners to defend our shared values.”
The comments come as the UK and Japan finalise a Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will allow British troops to train and operate on Japanese soil. The pact is the first of its kind for Japan in Asia, and signals a dramatic shift in its post-war pacifist stance.
For the British government, the deal is a key part of its “tilt” to the Indo-Pacific, a strategy announced after leaving the European Union. The hope is that closer ties with Tokyo will boost trade, security, and influence in a region that is home to half the world's population.
But for ordinary Japanese, the prospect of foreign troops on their land is a sensitive issue. Japan's constitution, imposed after World War Two, renounces war and limits the use of force. The government has been pushing to reinterpret those rules, but many citizens remain wary.
The minister acknowledged the concern. “We understand the history. But the threat is real. If we do nothing, the risk of conflict will only increase.”
On the other side of the world, the UK is facing its own security challenges. Defence spending is under strain, and the army is at its smallest size in centuries. Critics question whether Britain has the resources to project power so far from home.
The minister dismissed such doubts. “It’s not about numbers. It’s about commitment. The UK has world-class capabilities and a willingness to take a stand. That is what we value.”
For the workers and families who depend on defence jobs in places like Barrow-in-Furness or Portsmouth, the partnership could mean new contracts and job security. But in Japan, the government is also investing heavily, with a pledge to spend 2% of GDP on defence by 2027.
“We are not seeking to militarise, we are seeking to deter,” the minister insisted. “Deterrence is the best way to prevent war. And that requires real capability, not just words.”
As the global order fractures, the alliance between a post-Brexit Britain and a post-pacifist Japan is a sign of the times. The question is whether it will be enough to keep the peace, or whether it is just another step toward a more dangerous world.
