India, Japan agree to bolster defence ties

Indian and Japanese defence ministers Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi held talks in New Delhi, agreeing to strengthen security ties, particularly in maritime cooperation. This development comes as both nations are part of the Quad security alliance, comprising the United States and Australia, which serves as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean and wider Asia-Pacific region.

The ministers signed a memorandum on maritime security cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to deepen defence collaboration to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. This cooperation is crucial, not just for India and Japan, but also for the wider region and global community.

India has been seeking Tokyo's involvement with its domestic military hardware industry, aiming to boost its self-reliance in defense production through the Make in India initiative. The ministers suggested exploring joint efforts in naval shipbuilding and design, utilizing Tokyo's technological expertise alongside Delhi's production capabilities.

Koizumi's visit to India follows a similar trip by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in July. During that meeting, both leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in critical minerals, an industry dominated by China. Takaichi had earlier cautioned about challenges such as the weaponization of the economy and non-market policies, which could lead to exclusive cliques or confrontations.