First application of Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement
2023/10/24
Japan and the United Kingdom have decided that the Japan-UK Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA: Agreement between Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning the Facilitation of Reciprocal Access and Cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), which came into force on 15 October 2023, will be applied for the first time to the bilateral field training exercise, Vigilant Isles 23, between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) and the British Army.
The objectives of Vigilant Isles 23 are to develop the JGSDF’s operational capabilities and to promote mutual understanding and trust between the JGSDF and the British Army. The exercise will be a joint exercise based on island defense, taking into account the geographical characteristics of both Japan and the UK. The exercise will be held from 15 to 26 November in Japan.
The objectives of Vigilant Isles 23 are to develop the JGSDF’s operational capabilities and to promote mutual understanding and trust between the JGSDF and the British Army. The exercise will be a joint exercise based on island defense, taking into account the geographical characteristics of both Japan and the UK. The exercise will be held from 15 to 26 November in Japan.