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The Briefing

Keir Starmer's global balancing act

Nov 21, 2024
Keir Starmer, Leader of the UK Labour Party, navigates the complexities of global politics. He discusses the recent Five Eyes intelligence meeting in Japan and its implications for Western support of Ukraine. As one of the last centre-left leaders not to face electoral defeat, Starmer reflects on what it means to lead under pressure. The conversation also hints at Japan's evolving role in intelligence dynamics and broader geopolitical shifts involving China and North Korea.
32:55

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The first meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance in Japan highlighted concerns about Japan's intelligence capabilities amidst global security challenges.
  • Keir Starmer's efforts to re-establish UK-China relations reveal the complexities of balancing economic interests with security risks in a changing geopolitical landscape.

Deep dives

Japan's Role in the Five Eyes Alliance

Japan recently hosted the first meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which comprises the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The discussions revolved around various global events, including Russia's missile launches and security enhancements in relation to North Korea. While Japan's geographical location offers strategic interception capabilities, concerns about the capability and effectiveness of its intelligence services were raised, specifically regarding their ability to contribute significantly at the level of current Five Eyes members. The collaboration hinted at behind-the-scenes conversations about intelligence gathering and security measures, which are crucial given Japan's historical leaks in sensitive information.

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