Anglo-Japanese Alliance

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was a treaty between Britain and Japan, first signed in 1902 and renewed in 1905 and 1911. It recognized each power’s interests in East Asia and required neutrality if either fought one opponent, with military support if it faced multiple opponents.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty of 1902: The 1902 treaty establishing an alliance between Britain and Japan, with provisions for neutrality and mutual assistance. Its original clauses defined when each state would remain neutral or provide military support.
Splendid isolation: A label for Britain's late nineteenth-century policy of avoiding binding European alliances while preserving freedom of action. The alliance marked a departure from Britain's preference for diplomatic independence.
Russo-Japanese War: A war fought by Russia and Japan from 1904 to 1905 over influence in Korea and Manchuria. Britain's alliance kept other powers from joining Russia against Japan.
Franco-Russian Alliance: A military alliance formed by France and Russia in the 1890s to counter the Triple Alliance. It was a European great-power alignment that Britain sought to balance through its agreement with Japan.
Lord Salisbury: British prime minister and foreign secretary whose governments shaped Britain's late Victorian foreign policy. His policy legacy framed Britain's strategic choices before the 1902 agreement.
Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty of 1905: The 1905 revision that expanded the alliance's scope and obligations amid changes in East Asia. It extended the agreement beyond the original limits after Japan's victory over Russia.
Russo-Japanese rivalry: The competition between Russia and Japan for influence in Manchuria and Korea around the turn of the twentieth century. Shared concern about Russian expansion gave Britain and Japan a powerful reason to cooperate.
First World War: A global war fought from 1914 to 1918 between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. Japan entered the war against Germany, consistent with its alliance with Britain.
Triple Alliance: A pre-First World War alliance among Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, established in 1882. This European bloc exemplifies the alliance system Britain had long avoided joining.
Itō Hirobumi: A Japanese statesman who served several times as prime minister and helped shape Japan's modern government. Itō's 1901 mission to Europe explored diplomatic options before Japan concluded the alliance.

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