Media Options for May 11, 2023
Democracy NowMAY 2023
The UK's relationship with Japan has deepened and strengthened at a very fast pace, reflecting Japan's pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific and its centrality to Britain's security and prosperity. In recent months, Britain has joined the CPTPP trade bloc, launched the UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme, and signed a ground-breaking defense Reciprocal Access Agreement. As a show of military importance, the UK will send its Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025 to help defend peace and stability in this strategically important region.
The UK's global influence has been in decline for some time. While Britain still possesses a range of capabilities, it is nowhere near as powerful as it once was. Britain remains relevant only because it can hitch a ride on US hegemony. London has lost its trust and markets in Europe since exiting the EU, forcing it to seek new opportunities in booming economies such as those in the Indo-Pacific region. The UK is boosting its presence in Asia in an attempt to prove it is still relevant in world affairs.