New Delhi, India, August 19 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Thursday. The meeting is expected to further strengthen bilateral defense relations, enhance strategic trust and cooperation, promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and identify new areas of collaboration.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, the two ministers will exchange views on deeper maritime security cooperation and closer defense equipment and technology collaboration under the “Make in India” framework, following Japan’s revision of its Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology. The meeting will provide an opportunity to develop a roadmap for further advancing bilateral defense and security cooperation.
Koizumi, who is on his first visit to India, visited the Western Naval Command in Mumbai on Wednesday, where he held discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff Adm. Krishna Swaminathan and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Adm. Sanjay Vatsayan. The Japanese delegation was briefed on the roles, responsibilities and operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.
Upon his arrival, Koizumi inspected a Guard of Honor at the Western Naval Command. He earlier laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh at the Naval Dockyard and also visited the indigenous Indian Navy ship INS Chennai, the Ministry of Defense said.
India and Japan share a common vision of building a free, open, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The ministry said the Japanese defense minister’s two-day visit underscores the growing momentum in bilateral defense cooperation and reflects the commitment of both sides to further expand the partnership.
The visit comes weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi traveled to New Delhi for the Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both sides agreed to deepen defense and security cooperation.
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