New Delhi: India and Japan are stepping up efforts to expand their defence partnership amid growing strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides are looking to widen cooperation across traditional military engagements as well as newer areas such as technology, space and cybersecurity.
The latest discussions took place on Friday when India’s ambassador to Japan, Nagma Mallick, met the Japanese defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, in Tokyo. The meeting focused on identifying opportunities to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, according to the Indian embassy in Japan.
Koizumi highlighted the wider significance of the partnership, saying closer defence ties between the two countries were important for regional and global peace and stability. Japan’s defence ministry said it and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces would work towards taking defence cooperation with India to a deeper level.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of increasing defence and security engagement between New Delhi and Tokyo. Koizumi had met Mallick at a reception at the Indian ambassador’s residence on July 16, where the two sides expressed their intention to further strengthen defence ties.
India and Japan had also used their 8th Defence Policy Dialogue in Tokyo on July 13 to assess the future direction of their security partnership. Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh led the Indian delegation, while Japan was represented by vice minister of defence for international affairs Kano Koji.
The dialogue placed particular emphasis on expanding cooperation beyond conventional military exchanges. The discussions included defence industrial collaboration, technological innovation, cyber security and space, along with maritime cooperation, defence exercises, capacity building and defence equipment and technology.
Both countries also reviewed developments in the regional and global security environment and noted their growing convergence on strategic matters. They reiterated their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific and agreed to maintain close coordination on shared security interests.
During his Japan visit, Singh separately met Koizumi and conveyed the greetings of defence minister Rajnath Singh. The continued exchanges underline the efforts by India and Japan to build greater momentum in their global partnership.
India-Japan naval chiefs hold talks
In another related development on Friday, chief of staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Akira Saito held a video conference with Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the new Indian Navy chief, and exchanged views on deepening mutual understanding through joint exercises and other means, as well as the direction of defence cooperation.
The Japan defence force said it would continue to strengthen inter-service cooperation between the Japanese and Indian navies for the sake of peace and stability in the region. The development was posted by the Indian embassy in Tokyo on X.