U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancels Japan trip
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The two governments had planned for Johnson and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to meet in person to discuss security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled a trip to Japan that was originally set for mid-February, news agency Kyodo reported on Monday, citing multiple Japanese government sources.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno denied reports that Johnson was planning to visit Japan in a regular briefing held on Monday morning.
Nikkei Asia reports that it has become increasingly difficult for Johnson to make the trip as tensions between Russia and the West intensify over Ukraine.
The two governments had planned for Johnson and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to meet in person to discuss security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
It would have been the first in-person meeting between the two prime ministers since they met in the U.K. at the COP26 climate summit in November last year.
Johnson is under pressure to resign for having attended parties last year in violation of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Some observers say the growing calls for Johnson to step down also contributed to the decision to call off the Japan visit.
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