Guarding the Indo-Pacific: India and Japan to enhance cooperation in maritime security

India and Japan met in New Delhi to bolster their collaboration on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Arrangement to strengthen ties between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The agreement focuses on Maritime Domain Awareness, Search and Rescue operations, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

Both ministers emphasized the importance of sharing assessments of the security environment amid rising global tensions and opposed unilateral actions threatening freedom of navigation. They agreed to enhance coordination through naval ship visits, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, and logistical support. The ministers also discussed expanding mine countermeasures capabilities and joint naval shipbuilding, leveraging each other's strengths.

They welcomed the growing defence cooperation among their Ministries and Services under the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which aims to foster peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The ministers affirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation, including bilateral exercises and the development of the shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna system.

They expressed intent to convene a Defence Industry Forum and accelerate discussions for the Fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to take place in Tokyo this year.