British defense chief emphasizes close security ties with Japan

British Defense Secretary John Healey has underlined his country’s close security ties with Japan amid the changing security environment.

“We are forging a golden age of defense cooperation together,” Healey told reporters Friday during his visit to Japan, calling the East Asian country “our closest security ally in Asia.”

His visit coincided with port calls in Japan by Britain’s aircraft carrier Prince of Wales, including at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.