Japan’s 2026 defence white paper highlights India’s military rise and strategic importance

New Delhi: Japan has described India as an extremely important country in its Defence of Japan 2026 white paper highlighting its strategic location, growing economic influence and expanding military capabilities. The assessment identifies defence equipment and technology cooperation as an important pillar of the two countries’ special strategic and global partnership.

The report highlights India’s position along major maritime shipping routes, including those around the Strait of Malacca, and its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. It also notes India’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the Indian Ocean, where China’s expanding activities have become an important security consideration.

Japan’s assessment points to India’s military modernization and push for domestic defence production under the “Make in India” and (Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan) “Self-Reliant India” initiatives. It highlights the country’s efforts to strengthen its land, sea and air capabilities, including its aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarine programme, advanced missiles and air defence systems.

India’s growing role in regional security also features in the report’s discussion of cooperation among Indo-Pacific partners. Japan highlights efforts involving India, the United States and other regional countries to strengthen deterrence, improve military coordination and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Defence technology cooperation remains a key component of India-Japan ties, with the proposed transfer of Japan’s Unified Complex Radio Antenna (Unicorn) system to Indian Navy warships among the major projects under discussion. The integrated antenna system is intended to enhance the stealth capabilities of naval platforms.

In November 2024, India and Japan signed a pact called the Memorandum of Implementation for the Unicorn project. This would provide opportunities for more cooperation between India and Japan on defence equipment development and manufacturing.

In addition to this, the relationship has expanded via military engagements with other partners as well. For instance, India and the United States signed a 10-year framework for the major defence partnership in October 2025, while Japan has kept supporting cooperation in maritime security and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition to the military relations of India with Russia, which continue even now, Japan’s white paper makes special mention of the security relationships that India maintains with the US. The concerns of New Delhi in terms of security issues include border disputes with China and Pakistan, along with the issue of maritime security.

This assessment by the report is coming at a time when Japan and India have been making more attempts to cooperate in terms of their defence industries while addressing new security issues that arise in the Indo-Pacific region.