India, Japan deepen defence ties with maritime security pact as China challenge looms
India and Japan's defense ministers met to expand their strategic partnership. They signed an agreement enhancing maritime security cooperation between their navies. This pact facilitates information sharing and disaster relief efforts. Both nations are also exploring joint shipbuilding and reciprocal ship repair facilities. Future plans include joint exercises and a defense industry forum.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of India met with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi in New Delhi, marking a significant strengthening of defence ties between the two nations. The visit comes as a growing challenge from China in the Indo-Pacific region. With the Special Strategic and Global Partnership formalised in 2014, the relationship has seen continuous expansion under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, including eight visits to Japan.
During the meeting, both ministers signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on maritime security cooperation, which aims to enhance collaboration in information sharing for maritime domain awareness and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Defence cooperation has intensified in recent years, with several agreements institutionalising exchanges, including the Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services pact in 2020 and co-development of Japan’s UNICORN integrated communications antenna system for the Indian Navy in 2024.
The visit saw reaffirmed commitments to maritime security, mine countermeasures, and joint shipbuilding. Discussions are underway to expand bilateral exercises, including Dharma Guardian and JAIMEX, with Japan’s fighter aircraft set to participate in India for the first time in Veer Guardian 26. Both ministers also emphasised the importance of deepening defence R&D cooperation between DRDO and Japan’s ATLA, and announced plans to convene a Defence Industry Forum.
The visit underscores the importance of economic security as a foundational pillar of the partnership, with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision aligning with India’s MAHASAGAR initiative. Both sides are committed to elevating economic security ties, recognising the interconnection between prosperity and security. The Japan-India relationship, rooted in cultural affinity spanning over a millennium, continues to evolve into a strategic convergence that is vital for maintaining an open and secure Indo-Pacific region.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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