Japan-UK Strategic Cyber Partnership Statement

Japan and the United Kingdom have announced a Strategic Cyber Partnership, setting out how the two countries plan to work together to tackle cyber threats, strengthen digital resilience, and advance innovation. The statement below outlines the shared intentions for the cooperation on cybersecurity between the two governments. 

Statement of intent

1. Cooperation on cyber security is an essential pillar of the modern Japan-UK
relationship. The Governments of Japan and the United Kingdom (hereinafter
referred to as the “Participants”) are committed to free, fair and secure
cyberspace.

2. Building on the Japan-UK Cyber Partnership established as a part of “The
Hiroshima Accord: an Enhanced Japan-UK Global Strategic Partnership” in 2023,
the Participants concurred on upgrading their cyber cooperation into a Strategic
Cyber Partnership. The Participants reaffirm the benefits of close collaboration,
including on information sharing, developing technical standards, international
law and norms, protecting critical national infrastructure, and the development
and deployment of cyber technologies.

3. The Participants will use their available capabilities to deter the full range of cyber
threats facing Japan and the United Kingdom.

Scope

4. The Japan-UK Strategic Cyber Partnership (hereinafter referred to as the
“Strategic Partnership”) will provide an adaptable framework to pursue that goal.
The Strategic Partnership will serve to intensify co-operation and delivery around
shared opportunities and challenges with respect to cyber. It may support other
specific bilateral initiatives by mutual consent, in addition to providing strategic
direction on existing collaboration.

5. The framework will remain flexible in order to respond to any emerging issues
relevant to the bilateral relationship. Co-operation will be intensified around three
pillars:

i. Detect, deter and defend against cyber threats by sharing cyber threat
intelligence and assessment, enhancing our cyber capabilities, leading
international initiatives and delivering deterrence campaigns, including
attributions. The Participants also intend to cooperate through official
channels to share information and provide support when either of the
Participants faces destructive, disruptive or otherwise destabilising
malicious cyber incidents.

ii. Enhance whole-of-society cyber resilience by sharing best practice on
critical infrastructure protection and supply chains, and promoting
regulatory and standards alignment.

iii. Build a growth and innovation ecosystem by cooperation on cyber
workforces and emerging technologies. The Participants also confirm that
they will implement the cyber-related cooperation under the UK-Japan
Industrial Strategy Partnership.
Governance

6. The Strategic Partnership will be governed through the Japan-UK Cyber Dialogue
(hereinafter referred to as the “Cyber Dialogue”) to advance the full spectrum of
cyber co-operation. The Cyber Dialogue is co-chaired by principals in the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office with
the participation of other respective ministries, departments and agencies with
relevant policy interests.

Plan of action

7. The Strategic Partnership will be supplemented by an underlying Action Plan,
which will detail the practical areas of cooperation and collaboration that the
Participants will aim to pursue.
Non-binding

8. This document only shows the Participants’ intentions and does not constitute and is not intended to create any legally binding obligations under domestic or
international law and will not be deemed to constitute or create any legally binding
obligations or enforceable obligations, express or implied.