Britain hopes Japan will continue to provide support for antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean, a senior British official told a recent defense conference in London, amid fears that the Maritime Self-Defense Force flotilla could be withdrawn.
Britain also values Japan's growing role in helping to reconstruct former war zones and expects it will continue to contribute to global peace and security, said Teresa Jones, director of policy and defense relations (south) at the British Ministry of Defense.
Since 2001, the MSDF has been refueling vessels, including those from Britain and the United States, in the Indian Ocean. The vessels are engaged in interdiction operations to prevent terrorist supplies reaching Afghanistan and the surrounding region.