Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks during a meeting with Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, May 12, 2026. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering traveling to Britain and Italy for leaders’ talks in June ahead of the Group of Seven summit in France, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.
Takaichi is expected to confirm cooperation in economic and national security areas and discuss ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the sources said.
The G7 summit is set to be held in Evian, France, for three days from June 15.
Takaichi hosted both leaders in January and received invitations to visit their countries, with the swift timing of the trips allowing the prime minister to highlight close ties with the two like-minded nations.
Arrangements for Takaichi’s visit to Britain remain fluid, however, as Starmer faces mounting pressure to resign following heavy losses for his Labour Party in May local elections.
Japan, Britain and Italy are jointly developing a next-generation fighter jet, and the leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to speeding up defense industrial cooperation.
Agreement to work together to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals is also expected, with an eye on export restrictions by China, according to the sources.
Discussions on the Britain-led initiative for a defensive multinational mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route effectively closed by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, are also likely to be on the agenda, the sources said.
AloJapan.com