By Jasmine Cameron-Kilesh and George Parker, reporting from London
Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, and Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, are due to sign a defense agreement on Wednesday that will allow the two countries to deploy armed forces in each other’s countries.
The move comes as the British government seeks to become more involved in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China’s influence – even as the war in Ukraine has forced Britain to reassess its global strategy.
The two leaders will also meet in London to discuss the UK’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
