New Delhi, India, Aug. 20 (ANI): India and Japan on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defense and strategic ties as Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, held high-level talks in New Delhi.
The talks focused on expanding defense cooperation, strengthening military interoperability, boosting defense manufacturing and enhancing maritime security, with both sides stressing the importance of a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Singh welcomed Koizumi on his maiden official visit to India as Japan’s defense minister. He also expressed condolences to Japan following the devastating earthquake that recently struck the country.
“I express deepest sympathies and solidarity of the government and people of India following the devastating earthquake in Japan,” Singh said.
Praising Japan’s response to the disaster, Singh said India remained “deeply inspired by the remarkable resilience, swift emergency response, and preparedness of Japan.”
“Let me reassure and reaffirm India’s absolute commitment to providing any assistance, relief, or support during this difficult time,” Singh added.
A key focus of the talks was expanding defense cooperation beyond traditional military engagements into emerging technologies and industrial manufacturing.
Singh highlighted the growing level of coordination between the armed forces of the two countries.
“Joint military engagements across our army, navy and air force underscore our deepening interoperability,” he said.
However, he stressed that the changing global security environment required India and Japan to broaden their partnership.
“To stay ahead of evolving global uncertainties, we must broaden our collaboration into emerging domains and industrial manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” Singh said.
The talks come after Japan revised its Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, potentially creating greater opportunities for advanced defense cooperation and joint production with India.
Both countries are looking to expand partnerships in defense technology and manufacturing, aiming to bolster domestic capabilities while creating greater opportunities for collaboration between their defense industries.
Maritime security was another major focus of the talks, with Singh highlighting the growing importance of protecting sea routes and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
“As two leading democracies in Asia, India and Japan share a profound responsibility to ensure peace, stability and prosperity,” Singh said.
“Our maritime lifelines are facing growing vulnerabilities. Our effort in ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce is not just an economic necessity, but a strategic imperative,” he added.
The two countries are expected to continue strengthening maritime domain awareness, operational coordination and joint naval engagements as part of their broader defense partnership.
Singh also underlined the close strategic connection between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
“The security of Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean is deeply interlinked,” he said, adding that a close alignment between India’s MAHASAGAR vision, Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative was “more important now than ever before.” (ANI)
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