UK-Japan Defence and Security Cooperation: Past and Future

UK-Japan Defence and Security Cooperation: Past and Future

RUSI, the Japan Society, and the Japanese Embassy would like to invite you to a special event commemorating a long history of Anglo-Japanese relations. In 1917, the Japanese Imperial Navy sent a special force of destroyers into the Mediterranean, consisting of nine of Japan’s newest warships. The force provided escort-duty for allied convoys between Marseille, Taranto, and Egypt up until the end of the war. In June, a further four destroyers were added to the force, and by the end of the war, the Japanese had escorted 788 allied transports.
 
This event will be broken into two sessions. The first will seek to highlight aspects of the Anglo-Japanese alliance that have remained outside the conventional appreciation of naval history. This session will feature two notable historians, one from Japan and one from England, with each commenting on the different elements on the above story. The second session will focus on the growing security relationship that exists between the UK and Japan, noting a number of similarities that both countries have. With both countries having strong security ties with the United States, both must adapt their defence industries to the 21st Century. As both Japan and the UK are island states, it is little wonder that their current security policies include a strong reliance on naval forces that have traditionally played such a large historical role.

Confirmed participants include:

• Dr Anthony Best, London School of Economics, London
• Professor Ian Nish CBE, London School of Economics (ret)
• Professor Tomoyuki Ishizu, RUSI-NIDS Visiting Fellow
• Professor Geoffrey Till, King’s College, London
• Mr Koji Tomita, Political Minister, the Japanese Embassy, UK
• Mrs Teresa Jones OBE JP, Director of Policy and Defence Relations, South, MOD

There will be a reception in the Library and Reading Room following the lecture, in which drinks and light refreshments will be served. Shin Ebihara, the Ambassador of Japan, will make a small speech at this time.

Tickets will be priced at £12.00.

Booking enquiries should be made to Jennifer Walker at Jenniferw@rusi.org or + 44 (0)20 7747 2643.

Please contact John Hemmings at johnh@rusi.org or +44 (0)20 7747 2637 for all other enquiries.