Defense Diplomacy: Two-Plus-Two Talks and Japan Britain

defense diplomacy: The fourth round of the two-plus-two talks is expected to see the ministers explore specific areas of cooperation in defense and diplomacy as Japan and Britain both close U.S. allies view themselves as global strategic partners, according to The Japan Times. The ministers will likely confirm their cooperation on a global scale in a post-meeting joint statement and commit to promoting basic values such as democracy and the rule of law for the prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, according to the sources. Japan hopes to leverage closer ties with Britain, which is set to leave the European Union in late March, in advancing Tokyo's broader initiative to create a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of growing maritime assertiveness by China. ; Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya will sit down with British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson. In the document, Japan and Britain are considering including the enhancement of joint exercises between the Self-Defense Forces and the British military and deepening cooperation in defense equipment technology, the sources said. The meeting will come at a time when both nations apparently see the need for increasing economic ties as uncertainty continues over the process of Britain's planned departure from the EU bloc on March 29. The ministers may also take up issues related to North Korea and coordinate efforts to ensure Pyongyang gives up its nuclear weapons and missiles and stops ship-to-ship transfers of goods in violation of U.N. sanctions. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.