India and Japan agree to bolster defense ties
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh held talks and signed a memorandum on maritime security cooperation.
New Delhi – India and Japan agreed on Thursday to strengthen their defense and maritime security cooperation, following meetings between their respective defense ministers. The joint statement signed by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Rajnath Singh highlighted their commitment to deepening defense ties to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
This collaboration is crucial for both nations and the wider international community, as China's growing influence in the region remains a concern. The ministers discussed exploring joint development in naval shipbuilding and design, leveraging Japan's technological expertise alongside India's production capabilities under its "Make in India" initiative.
This move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo in July, where they aimed to enhance cooperation in critical minerals, a sector dominated by China. Following this meeting, Japan and India acknowledged facing economic and policy challenges, with China warning against any initiatives that might target or harm third parties or lead to exclusive alliances or conflicts.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
