By Alistair Smout
LONDON&nbsp;(Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his&nbsp;Japanese counterpart Fumio&nbsp;Kishida&nbsp;will&nbsp;sign&nbsp;a&nbsp;defence&nbsp;agreement in&nbsp;London&nbsp;on Wednesday that will allow the countries to deploy forces on each other's soil, the latest move towards closer security ties.
Kishida&nbsp;and Sunak will&nbsp;sign&nbsp;the reciprocal access&nbsp;defence&nbsp;agreement, agreed in principle last May, a month after the two countries teamed up with Italy on a new fighter jet programme.
The&nbsp;visit&nbsp;and agreement form part of&nbsp;Britain's Indo-Pacific tilt in foreign policy strategy as it builds security and trade ties in the region.
"This Reciprocal Access Agreement is hugely&nbsp;significant for both our nations - it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific," Sunak said in a statement.
"In this increasingly competitive world, it is more important than ever that democratic societies continue to stand shoulder to shoulder as we navigate the unprecedented global challenges of our time."
Kishida&nbsp;is&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;Britain&nbsp;as part of a tour of Group of Seven (G7) countries including France, Italy, Canada and the United States.&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;currently holds the G7 presidency.
Downing Street said Sunak would raise the need for the group to maintain its collective support for Ukraine as the first anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches in February.
Sunak and&nbsp;Kishida&nbsp;are also expected to discuss trade and&nbsp;Britain's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In December&nbsp;Britain&nbsp;and&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;also launched a digital partnership.
Sunak will meet&nbsp;Kishida&nbsp;at the Tower of&nbsp;London, a medieval fortress and one-time prison which houses the Crown Jewels and other treasures. The leaders will see some&nbsp;Japanese armour, which was presented to King James in 1613 by Shogun Tokugawa to mark the first trade agreement between England and&nbsp;Japan.
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(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by David Gregorio)

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Britain, Japan to sign defence pact during PM Kishida visit to London